LayarHijau – The anti-Japanese war film De Xian Jin Zhi (得閒謹制), starring Chinese superstar Xiao Zhan, premiered suddenly with virtually no promotional build-up, yet it grossed a staggering 1.88 billion yuan (around $259 million) in just 48 hours. The film smashed nine major records in Chinese cinema history, including the highest opening-day box office for a New Year war film, the highest single-day gross for a war film in the past five years, and the fastest pre-sale to cross 100 million yuan for a domestic war film. Many moviegoers are hailing it as Xiao Zhan’s first true big-screen landmark role.
According to Dengta Professional Edition, the film crossed 100 million yuan in just 15 hours on its opening day, marking the best domestic film opening in late September and becoming the only local movie in over two months to surpass 100 million yuan in a single day.
Yangtze Evening News reports that Xiao Zhan’s character, Mo De Xian, is portrayed as slightly anxious and talkative, with plenty of dialogue. Playing a locksmith who just wants a quiet life, he is forced by the circumstances of war to become a protector. To fully embody the role, Xiao Zhan rigorously trained in locksmithing, studied historical war materials, and completely shed his idol image, appearing in rough clothing and covered in dust to capture the craftsman’s gritty reality.
Audiences praised Xiao Zhan for his performance, describing it as “talkative but with words that cut deep,” combining the obsessive dedication of a craftsman with intelligence and courage—traits that fit him perfectly. Some even said the film showcased a dazzling transformation in his acting. “If you weren’t satisfied with his performance in Legend of the Condor Heroes, give him a chance here—he will leave you amazed,” one viewer wrote.
At the film’s premiere, a father attending with his wife and child became emotional sharing his impressions. “Mo De Xian, played by Xiao Zhan, risks everything to save his son—I could really feel it,” he said, emphasizing, “A family together is the greatest happiness.” The moment visibly moved Xiao Zhan on stage; cameras captured him bowing his head, holding back tears, his fingers trembling.
