The most lucrative war film in history with $913 million at the box office is also the most controversial: it is neither Saving Private Ryan nor Dunkirk

News culture The most lucrative war film in history with $913 million at the box office is also the most controversial: it is neither Saving Private Ryan nor Dunkirk

The highest grossing war film

The highest-grossing war film in history may not be what you think. Directed by three names in Chinese cinema, Chen Kaige, Dante Lam and Tsui Hark, Heroes – The Battle at Lake Changjin is a blockbuster that left its mark for its colossal budget and spectacular special effects. It is also a propaganda film based on real events and produced to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. The film’s story is set in the winter of 1950, when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army intervened in North Korea. Troops deployed to the Eastern Front face particularly difficult combat conditions at Changjin Lake. Suffering from supply shortages and obsolete military equipment against General MacArthur’s American forces, Chinese soldiers wage a fierce battle that will mark history.

With a budget of 200 million dollars, the feature film is dedicated to telling how Chinese soldiers, with few weapons and resources, managed to defeat the American army. It was obviously not a success in the United States, where it only grossed $342,411, but Heroes – The Battle at Lake Changjin is still the film that grossed $913 million at the box office. worldwide office, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2021, but also the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time, the highest-grossing non-English-language film and the second highest-grossing film in a single market. So obviously, a sequel, The Battle of Changjin Lake II, was released on February 1, 2022. For comparison, Christopher Nolan’s film “Dunkirk” grossed around $530 million at the global box office when it was released in 2017. For its part, Saving Private Ryan transformed its initial budget of $70 million into a nice jackpot of $482 million at the box office.

Far from attracting criticism

With a score of 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, Heroes – The Battle at Lake Changjin is still far from winning over critics. Variety writes about him that “Despite all the money spent and fireworks displayed, this collectively made and filmed film about the glory of collective effort and suffering to achieve military success never achieves the greatness it seeks“. The Hollywood Reporter is not kinder: “None of the high-profile cast, which includes Zhang Hanyu, Oho Ou, and Huang Xuan, are allowed more than a sketch to work from, which robs the story of any real emotional connectivity“. The Guardian concludes more concisely: “It’s pure propaganda, almost comical at times.”