Animated Film The Eight Immortals! Surpasses RMB800 Million at China's Box Office, Emerging as a Surprise Blockbuster

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 – Chinese animated feature The Eight Immortals! has become one of this summer's biggest surprise hits. Since opening in China on July 18, the film has relied on strong word-of-mouth rather than heavy promotion, grossing more than RMB800 million (approximately RM480 million) as of July 27.

Inspired by the legendary tale of the Eight Immortals, the film explores the heroes' lives before they attained immortality, combining traditional Chinese mythology with breathtaking visuals influenced by classical landscape paintings, ancient murals and folk art.

Director and screenwriter Mou Zhengyang said the Eight Immortals were chosen because they represent ordinary people who became immortals through perseverance rather than divine birth.

"They are imperfect, each with their own flaws, worries and ambitions. That's exactly why audiences can relate to them. When they choose to stand up and do the right thing, their stories become even more inspiring," he said.

The film follows eight ordinary individuals who must overcome powerful celestial enemies using courage, wisdom and teamwork before eventually earning the title of the Eight Immortals.

Producer Zhao Rui revealed that Mou personally completed the entire storyboard during pre-production, taking on the roles of writer, storyboard artist and visual presenter to perfect every detail. The creative team agreed from the beginning not to portray the characters as flawless deities, but to preserve their humanity, struggles and personal growth.

Built around themes of friendship, legacy and doing what is right, the film presents the immortals as relatable people who make mistakes, face doubts and continue choosing kindness despite the challenges.

Visually, The Eight Immortals! has also earned widespread praise for blending traditional Chinese aesthetics—including blue-green landscape paintings, ancient murals and New Year artwork—into a stunning fantasy world featuring iconic locations such as the Giant Turtle Island and the celestial palace above the clouds.

Driven by overwhelmingly positive reviews, the movie even outperformed Kung Fu Women's Football in single-day box office earnings over the weekend, cementing its status as one of the biggest animated dark horses of China's summer season.

Reflecting on the audience's response, Mou said the team's most touching moment came after reading a viewer's comment: "After watching this film, I decided to become a kinder person." He said comments like these made all of the team's hard work worthwhile and expressed hope that the film will soon reach audiences around the world.