FILE PHOTO: Operation Red Sea (2018) is a Chinese mainstream film inspired by the March 2015 evacuation of hundreds of Chinese citizens and foreign nationals from the southern port of Aden, Yemen, carried out by a Chinese Navy task force during the Yemeni civil war.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China’s new mainstream cinema has taken shape amid the continual enrichment and innovation of contemporary culture, gradually becoming a distinctive film genre that has attracted wide attention and praise. In its historical context, new mainstream films, as an important component of contemporary Chinese culture, have not only opened an effective path for the development of China’s mainstream cinema but have also made a powerful contribution to the construction of Chinese film culture in the new era.

In the 2020s, new mainstream films began moving beyond the early stage of eclectic blending—simply adopting the commercial operation models of popular films and the humanistic expression of art films—that characterized their initial formation. While retaining this typical style, they have expanded into a broader and richer “new mainstream” camp through integration with additional genres. Moreover, through their positive influence on filmmaking concepts and audience aesthetics, they began reshaping the landscape of Chinese cinema.

From grand narratives to everyday realities

From the proposal of the concept of “new mainstream cinema” to its rapid rise and eventual status as one of the dominant genres in Chinese film, new mainstream cinema has evolved over more than two decades from an idea into a mature reality. The integration of the strengths of multiple genres has not only driven its continued growth in practice but also carried forward, enriched, and innovated the traditions of contemporary Chinese film culture.

First, new mainstream films have actively drawn on the creative features of other genres. Their initial appeal to audiences, as well as to the film industry and academia, stemmed largely from their bold reworking of traditional “main melody” films. While upholding mainstream values, they began experimenting with multi-genre creative techniques to enhance the intrinsic meaning of their works. For this reason, early new mainstream films were primarily centered on grand themes concerning national destiny and the well-being of the people, such as The Founding of a Republic (2009), Beginning of the Great Revival (2011), The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014), Operation Mekong (2016), The Founding of an Army (2017), and Operation Red Sea (2018). Increasingly, other genres have drawn inspiration from the methods of new mainstream films, and their success at the box office and as well as their word-of-mouth reputations have further propelled this trend. While the expansion of themes and subject matter may challenge existing creative concepts, it has also laid the foundation for broader breakthroughs within this emerging genre.

Second, new mainstream films have sought to transcend their original structural limitations by merging with other forms to generate new sub-genres. One representative example is “warm realism.” This approach emphasizes both engagement with real life and an uplifting outlook, offering solace to individuals scarred by harsh realities. In this way, it provides realist films with a relatively positive core of values. From its conceptual origin, “warm realism” is nourished by traditional Chinese ideals such as patriotism, optimism, and resilience; it also draws methodological guidance from concepts like the harmony between humanity and nature and dialectical balance. As a result, “warm realism” incorporates more diverse storytelling strategies into realist traditions, offering audiences inspirational endings even while depicting protagonists’ hardships. New mainstream films have provided fertile ground for “warm realism” to develop, elevating it into a creative vision with profound social significance. Through this artistic vehicle, “warm realism” reaches broader audiences, provoking deeper reflection on real life and resonating emotionally with viewers. The elevation of this creative vision not only enhances the artistic value of films but also subtly contributes to positive cultural and social development.

Cultural spirit of continuity and inclusiveness

Through the realization of a diversified developmental pattern, new mainstream cinema is gradually forming a distinctive cultural style. It both inherits the essence of contemporary Chinese film culture and embraces openness and inclusiveness, making it one of the most influential genres in Chinese cinema of the new era.

First, new mainstream films continue and promote the traditions of contemporary Chinese film culture. A keen sensitivity to social and historical transformations, a steadfast adherence to a “people-centered” creative orientation, and a profound interpretation of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics have long been regarded as defining traditions of contemporary Chinese cinema. These qualities have given Chinese films and filmmakers their distinctive, unified spirit, and new mainstream films are no exception. From their early emergence to their flourishing presence today, producers of new mainstream films have remained committed to the original mission of fully showcasing the mainstream culture of contemporary China. Accordingly, their central focus lies in highlighting patriotic and socialist ideals, reflecting the processes of modernization and reform, revisiting episodes of revolutionary struggle, and fostering a creative outlook that is both constructive and inspiring.

Second, in keeping with the principle of inclusiveness, new mainstream films strive to meet the diverse aesthetic needs of audiences. Filmmakers have continuously broadened their horizons, actively participating in international film exchanges and collaborations, drawing on the strengths of world cinema culture, and adapting these influences for their own use. On one hand, since they are not confined to a single genre, new mainstream filmmakers are free from the burdens of rigid traditions. This flexibility allows them to learn selectively from outstanding cinematic practices from other countries and regions—a notable example being the Wandering Earth series.

On the other hand, incorporating global cinematic ideas and technologies into “Chinese-style innovation” is another important way new mainstream films construct a harmonious film culture. In the Wandering Earth series, for example, compared with Hollywood science fiction’s emphasis on individual heroism, the Chinese approach—rooted in the emotional attachment of ordinary people to their homeland and their collective resolve to survive by defending it—embodies a spirit of collectivism. Guided by the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, and shaped by the influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, this vision reflects an optimistic Chinese attitude toward the Earth and humanity’s future. Such a cultural outlook and value orientation stand in fundamental contrast to the dystopian imagery of ruin and desolation that has frequently characterized recent Hollywood science fiction.

Building a strong film nation

As filmmaking continues to innovate, Chinese film culture has evolved in turn. After more than two decades of exploration and practice, new mainstream cinema has become a vital force for innovation in Chinese filmmaking. In particular, against the backdrop of a generally sluggish global film market, the questions of how to address the rigidity of genre films and how to contribute cultural strength to the process of Chinese modernization has made new mainstream cinema a key reference point for Chinese filmmakers in constructing a film culture for the new era and advancing the strategy of building China into a strong film nation.

First, the rapid rise of new mainstream films has boosted the confidence of both filmmakers and audiences. Many representative works combine artistic and commercial value, breaking the long-standing dominance of foreign films over domestic ones in terms of box office and influence. They have allowed audiences to feel firsthand the tremendous progress of Chinese cinema, thereby strengthening cultural confidence in its prospects. While box office figures are not the only measure of a film’s worth, they do reflect—at least to some extent—a film’s market appeal and audience reception.

In 2023, multiple overseas superhero films, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, each grossed only one to two billion yuan in the Chinese mainland. In 2024, only Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and The Boy and the Heron made it into the top ten at the mainland box office. This lackluster performance has been regarded as a landmark event signaling the clear victory of domestic films in the competition between Chinese and foreign productions. It demonstrates that Chinese audiences, whose cultural consumption needs are now well served by domestic films, are becoming less reliant on foreign productions. This is partly due to popular support for local cinema and partly to a broader realignment of the global film landscape.

More importantly, the distinctly Chinese aesthetics embodied in new mainstream films are shaping domestic cultural tastes. Compared with Hollywood’s heavy reliance on resources and spectacle, new mainstream films—though not yet surpassing Hollywood technologically—have offered valuable lessons in artistic exploration. Recent films that blend China’s cultural heritage with modern cinematic techniques stand out in particular.

Second, through its cultural practices, new mainstream cinema has contributed to the construction of a “new era” film culture. Building a strong film industry is an integral part of strengthening China’s cultural presence, carrying important implications for the cultural industry’s development and for enhancing cultural influence abroad. In its process of emergence, formation, and diversification, new mainstream cinema has also driven the steady improvement of China’s film industrial system in several domains. In production, it emphasizes precision and excellence, employing digital assets and virtual previsualization to create multi-threaded workflows. Film props have evolved from tanks and cannons to armed helicopters and missile frigates. Special effects have advanced from simple pyrotechnics to ultra-realistic space battles and deep-sea explorations. These technological and industrial upgrades have not only delivered powerful visual experiences but also triggered systemic transformation across the film industry. As a result, China’s film sector has undergone rapid and distinctive changes—significantly enhancing its international visibility and competitiveness and laying a solid foundation for building a strong film nation.

In this way, Chinese cinema has not only achieved rapid growth in a short time but has also provided guidance for other art forms. Its cultural influence has extended throughout the cultural industry chain, contributing to the overall prosperity of China’s cultural sector.

Lu Xiaofang is deputy editor-in-chief at Shandong Social Sciences.