Better story-telling, new directors underpin rise of Chinese domestic films

Hu Jianli, a movie critic, told the Guangming Daily newspaper that gone are the days when any big-budget films, coupled with A-list cast, can automatically achieve market success. "Chinese moviegoers have become more cultivated, and they care more about movie quality."

Experts also noted the rise of new directors, some of whom have just shot their first big-screen films in recent years.

Among them were actor-turned-director Huang Bo, whose critically-acclaimed "The Island" raked in more than 1.3 billion yuan, and Wen Muye, a man in his 30s who is now well-known for directing "Dying to Survive."

The report from Alibaba Pictures highlighted the ever-expanding size of young moviegoers -- with those under 19 years old already accounting for eight percent of the total in 2018. As the trend continues, these tech-savvy young directors are believed to have a better understanding of the audience and the market.

Rao Shuguang, head of China Film Critics Association, said these young and new directors will form the foundation for the development of Chinese domestic films.