China's National Day holiday box office competition heats up as The Volunteers: Peace at Last, the concluding chapter of director Chen Kaige's ambitious trilogy, prepares for its nationwide release on September 30. The Beijing premiere on Saturday marked the culmination of a decade-long project chronicling pivotal moments in modern Chinese history.
The film dramatizes key events surrounding the founding of the People's Republic of China, blending large-scale battle sequences with personal narratives. Chen, known for historical epics like Farewell My Concubine, described the trilogy as "a cinematic monument to collective memory" during the premiere event.
Industry analysts predict strong performance during the week-long National Day holiday, a traditionally lucrative period for domestic films. The release faces competition from family-friendly animations and romantic comedies, but benefits from patriotic themes aligning with holiday sentiment.
Box office tracking platforms show advance ticket sales surpassing 50 million yuan ($6.8 million) within 24 hours of presales opening. The trilogy's previous installments grossed over 2 billion yuan collectively, establishing it as one of China's most successful historical film series.
