Moviegoers wait in a movie theater in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, on October 7, 2024. Photo: VCG

With a total box office of 2.097 billion yuan ($298.74 million), China's seven-day National Day film period for 2024 came to the end on Monday. 

A total of 10 films, ranging from musical to ­comedy diversified the holiday period, with a "red-themed" production becoming the most popular film among moviegoers. 

The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death, the second film in director Chen Kaige's red-themed The Volunteers trilogy was the champion of the box office. It has earned more than 820 million yuan  so far over its eight days of release. 

Depicting the resilience of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), the film was not only the most watched movie, but also maintained a strong presence through good word of mouth as its box office exceeded 100 million yuan every day over six consecutive days starting from October 1. 

The movie's "down-to-earth storytelling" and the "market's group-watching trend" were the two major reasons that have led to the film's success, Xiao Sujun, a marketer in the film industry, told the Global Times. 

Compared to the grand setting of many wartime films, The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death focuses on the stories of individuals. No matter if it is a rookie soldier's growing bravery or the close ties between the members of the Li family, those small tales "make the concept of war a reality" for audiences, Xiao said, bringing them closer to the historical scenes. 

"Given the comments on the director's other works, I have to say that this film has made me see the power of individuals in a country. I felt fortunate that my kids can now learn about history in such a vivid and experiential way," one netizen posted on media rating platform Douban. 

Catering to the National Day's patriotic gist, the film was a popular choice for moviegoers heading to cinemas as a group, particularly among families and schools. Noting that red-themed films "blend educational value into entertainment," cultural policy expert Dou ­Saiming said that in future, this category will continue to fuel the growth of China's other holiday box office periods. 

The diversity of films appears to have been the 2024 National Day film ­period's strong point. High Forces, for ­example, is a disaster movie that brings a rare "aviation disaster" theme to domestic films. 

Comedy Panda Plan brings the double star power of "Jackie Chan and pandas" to the big screen. Other films like A Tapestry of a Legendary Land and Bureau 749 provided moviegoers with cinematic musical and adventure experiences. Bureau 749, starring superstar Wang Junkai, took second place on the box office chart despite director Lu ­Chuan's controversial engagement with netizens' criticisms. 

Photo: Courtesy of Maoyan

"The niche themes of these films reflect the industry's efforts to cater to consumers' different appetites," Xiao said, noting that the 2024 National Day holidays box office was not the best due to a "lack of big blockbuster films." 

Two films, disaster drama Give You a Candy and animated film The Hidden Chamber 309, withdrew from the period's competition. Featuring the combined theme of disaster and family, drama Give You a Candy looked to be a popular pick for female moviegoers before it withdrew on October 3, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.

"Going to the cinema is still one of the most popular cultural consumption choices among the public. However, the public's demands are changing, so the industry should find a creative path to cater to them," Xiao said.