Blockbuster movies that traditionally have fought it out at the box office during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season have most often been action-packed “costume” dramas from big name filmmakers. Despite lavish scenes and kung fu elements, they usually are criticized for a lack of originality.
But things have changed. This year, movie buffs are being presented with a more diverse menu of hesuipian, or New Year’s films. The movies cover a wide range of genres and subjects and most are small and medium-sized productions with budgets no greater than 120 million yuan (US$19.7 million).
Heartwarming comedy films are likely to do best at the box office this season, said Shi Chuan, vice president of the Shanghai Film Association and a veteran film critic.