Group photo for movie 1921 Photo: Courtesy of Tencent

After preview screenings launched on Friday, 1921, a movie celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has given indications that it will be a huge summer blockbuster in China. The rather relaxed storytelling of the movie is set to attract more young Chinese, say movie critics who have seen the film.

The box office from both pre-sales and preview screenings has exceeded 60 million yuan ($9.3 million) as of Sunday afternoon, according to ticketing platform Taopiaopiao, with 20 million yuan taken in from Saturday pre-screenings alone. 

Directed by Huang Jianxin, the producer of Bodyguards and Assassins and also a member of the jury at the 2021 Shanghai International Film Festival, 1921 is scheduled to be released on Thursday. Prescreening events have kicked off in many major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.

The movie is set to hit theaters in Hong Kong on July 9, according to tencent pictures.

A majority of the more than 100 movie critics who have reviewed the film have given it a high 9/10 or higher. 

Starring Chinese mainland actress Ni Ni, who rose to fame for her role in The Flowers Of War in 2011, and other young actors popular among young Chinese, 1921 tells the story of the young Chinese who gathered in Shanghai to found the CPC on July 1, 1921.

Many movie critics have said that the movie's portrayal of history is "hugely" different than previous Chinese historical movies. "1921 has successfully portrayed those well-known figures as living creatures rather than rigid historical images," said one reviewer on Sina Weibo.

One movie lover surnamed Wu in Beijing told the Global Times on Sunday that 1921 has been the only movie that she has been looking forward to over the past few days and that she can't wait to see it now that pre-screenings have started.

"By telling a story of the CPC rather than simply presenting its history, 1921 is sure to be accepted by more young Chinese people," another movie critic posted on Sina Weibo. 

"It invokes empathy in the audience by presenting many personal details of these well-known historical figures."