The Wandering Earth (2019)

The Wandering Earth is China's first true blockbuster on a global scale, grossing nearly $700 million worldwide and proving the country's sci-fi potential. Based on Liu Cixin’s novella, it depicts engineers pushing Earth to a new star using 10,000 planetary thrusters, a concept requiring a $50 million budget—high for a domestic film. When compared to #9, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, it outperforms that 2000 classic by over $480 million in revenue, though it lacks the critical acclaim of Ang Lee’s four-Oscar winner. With 40% of its audience coming from IMAX and 3D screenings, it sets a benchmark for Chinese blockbusters.