Despite mixed opinions, The Legend of the Condor Heroes, starring Xiao Zhan and Zhuang Dafei, has become one of the most anticipated films in China during the Lunar New Year. Directed by Tsui Hark, the martial arts epic has topped early ticket sales, setting impressive records.
As reported by Sina, since January 19, cinema systems in China began selling tickets for films premiering during the 2025 Lunar New Year period (from January 28 to February 4). By 5:00 p.m. on January 21, the total revenue from early ticket sales had exceeded 300 million yuan, setting a new record for early ticket sales during the Lunar New Year in Chinese cinema history. Among the films leading the sales is The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Swordsman, currently dominating the market.
The film, directed by Tsui Hark, reached the 10 million yuan milestone in less than an hour, becoming the fastest film in Chinese box office history to reach this amount. By January 20, it had surpassed 100 million yuan, and by the afternoon of January 21, early ticket sales had already generated around 139 million yuan. The film has far outpaced its competitors, including Detective Chinatown 1900 (44.3 million yuan).
With over 1.2 million people already lined up to see the film during the Lunar New Year, The Legend of the Condor Heroes is undeniably the standout film of the season. Chinese news outlets attribute the film's popularity not only to the classic appeal of the original story but also to the enthusiastic support of Xiao Zhan's massive fanbase. The 34-year-old actor is one of China's most popular young stars, with a large and devoted following.
For months, Xiao Zhan's fans have been actively promoting the film, generating intense discussions on Chinese social media platforms. Posts related to The Legend of the Condor Heroes have garnered more than 7 billion views on Weibo, with over 140 million comments. A new trailer released on January 20 further fueled excitement and anticipation.
The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Legend is adapted from chapters 34 to 40 of Jin Yong’s famous novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The story follows Guo Jing (Xiao Zhan) as he leaves his hometown as a teenager, meets martial arts masters, and acquires legendary skills, such as the Nine Yin Manual and Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Along the way, he meets Huang Rong, and together they navigate the martial arts world, overcoming trials and working to protect the people amidst chaos.
Directed and written by Tsui Hark, the film stars Xiao Zhan and Zhuang Dafei, with supporting roles played by Leung Ka-hui (Ouyang Feng), Hu Jun (Hong Qigong), Ada Choi (Li Ping), and more. Over the past few months, The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2025 has consistently been voted the most anticipated film of the year by audiences on Weibo and Douban platforms. Experts have hailed it as the most highly awaited martial arts project of the past decade.
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