Photo: Courtesy of the production team of Into the Mortal World

A recent survey revealed that several Chinese domestic films have achieved satisfaction ratings exceeding 80 points, the China Film News newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The satisfaction survey, conducted jointly by the China Film Art Research Center and ENData platform, is an independent comprehensive evaluation system for films, separate from box office sales, ticketing platforms, and social media, according to the report.

Topping the satisfaction rankings for films released in July are Successor, Into the Mortal World, and A Place Called Silence, all scoring over 84 points.

Domestic comedy Successor continues to lead the daily box office in the Chinese mainland, raking in 2.76 billion yuan ($384 million) on Wednesday. Directed by Yan Fei and Peng Damo and featuring comedy stars Shen Teng and Ma Li, the film tells the story of a wealthy couple who fake a challenging environment for their son to encourage personal growth.

Into the Mortal World, a new Chinese-style animated film that premiered on July 12, has seen its rating rise to 7.8 out of 10 on Douban, a media review site. 

This animation, rooted in traditional Chinese culture and family values, is adapted from the ancient folk tale The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The film, directed by Zhong Ding, emphasizes familial bonds and integrates traditional Chinese elements such as lanterns, dragon dances, embroidery, and celestial beings. 

"Our design principle was presenting modern concepts with ancient materials and craftsmanship, ensuring the audience remains immersed in the story," Zhong told the Global Times.

Crime thriller A Place Called Silence, which reflects on the issue of school bullying, a topic that has drawn increasing public attention in recent years, has garnered more than 1.3 billion yuan at the box office as of Wednesday.

Historical drama Decoded, fantasy film The Traveler directed by renowned ­filmmaker Wuershan and Evacuate from the 21st Century all garnered over 83 points in the satisfaction ratings.

"These films, noted for their visual spectacles, dimensional collisions, and advanced 'mental states,' have sparked market discussions and garnered high ratings from diverse audiences, contributing to the exploration of diversified film creation," said the survey.

The summer season, Spring Festival, and National Day holiday have always been regarded as three major peak periods for films. On Wednesday, the summer box office (June 1 to August 31) surpassed 8.5 billion yuan. However, the summer box office in 2023 surpassed 20.6 billion yuan, the highest in Chinese film history, exceeding the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.

Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times that while the year 2024's summer box office might approach that of 2023, the total annual box office is expected to fall short compared to 2023.

However, according to Sun, a focus solely on box-office numbers is inadequate when it comes to the big picture, especially at a time when confidence in the industry still needs further recovery, and the industry's ecosystem is undergoing repair. Therefore, a long-term perspective is essential to view the Chinese mainland film market's development.

Several major summer releases are still pending, including the domestic film Upstream and Hollywood's Alien: Romulus.

Regarding the prospects of the imported film market, Sun stated "that imported films, as an important supplement to the summer movie market, have consistently held a significant position in the schedule. Films like Despicable Me 4, which span cultures, will offer audiences a more diverse and rich selection of viewing options."