After years of ups and downs, especially the three-year heavy blow from the Covid pandemic, China’s film and TV industry surprisingly saw a fruitful year in 2023. Here are eight films and TV dramas that won audiences’ hearts and signaled the rejuvenation of the film and television industry in China.

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

Released on July 20 in the Chinese mainland, the film is the first installment of a trilogy loosely adapted from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi, or The Investiture of the Gods.

Rated 7.8 out of 10 points on Douban, the film’s total box office reached more than 2.6 billion yuan ($356 million), according to the Chinese entertainment service platform Maoyan.

No More Bets

No More Bets surpassed 500 million yuan in box-office earnings within the first three days of its premiere on Aug 8. It broke a record by overtaking advanced screenings of all previous Chinese movies.

The movie received a rating of 6.9 out of 10 on Douban. Its alarming storyline is a stark warning to viewers. Many have commented that it serves as a valuable cautionary tale, reminding them not to fall victim to cyberscams.

Chang'an

The longest Chinese animated movie garnered a rating of 8.3 points out of ten on Douban, as one of the highly acclaimed animated blockbusters of the summer season in 2023.

It recreates the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, showcasing the beautiful city of Yangzhou. Named after the ancient name for Xi'an in Shaanxi province, which served as the capital of the Tang Dynasty for over 280 years, the movie brings to life some of the most iconic figures in Chinese literary history.

Lost in the Stars

Lost in the Stars is a suspense crime film that topped the festival's box office charts during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival between June 22 and 24, earning a total of 507 million yuan, which accounted for 56 percent of the overall takings.

The film also features several of Van Gogh's most renowned paintings, including Starry Night, all of which contain metaphorical meanings that relate to the truth behind the mystery, said Cui Rui, the director of the film.

The Wandering Earth II

Released on Jan 22, 2023, the film tells the story of humanity building enormous engines to propel Earth to a new solar system as the sun rapidly burns out.

The prequel to China's all-time highest-grossing sci-fi epic The Wandering Earth made over 4 billion yuan (around $567 million) and secured the 10th spot on China's all-time box office chart when it finished its theatrical run on May 15. The Wandering Earth is China's highest-grossing science fiction film to date, earning nearly 4.7 billion yuan in revenue.

Full River Red

As the highest-grossing blockbuster during Spring Festival of the Year of Rabbit, this movie is named after ancient Chinese military general Yue Fei's most famous poem- Full River Red.

Set during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the historical suspense film tells the story of a group of grassroots patriots who sacrifice their lives to seek revenge for Yue Fei, a military general who was framed and put to death by the top courtier of the time, Qin Hui.

Full of strong patriotic feelings, the movie expresses conviction for defending the motherland.

The Long Season

Rated 9.4 out of 10 on Douban, the suspense crime story follows a long journey to discover how three people's fates have been changed by the "accidental" death of a young man in a fictional industrial city of Hualin in northeastern China from 1997 to 2016.

According to the streaming site Tencent Video, the drama's recommendation index has reached 96.7 percent, the highest of all series this year.

The Knockout

The 39-episode TV series is the first drama to detail the country's constant battle against organized crime and educate people about the judicial system.

It began screening on China Central Television and iQiyi, a provider of streaming services, on Jan 14. It received a rating of 8.5 out of 10 on Douban.

It also topped the viewership ratings for Chinese dramas in North America, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan, and has received a high score of 8.5 out of 10 on the American review aggregator, IMDb.