LayarHijau – The wuxia film Blades of the Guardians (镖人) continues to show strong performance at the Chinese box office. On March 5, as the film entered its 17th day in theaters, its total earnings had surpassed 1.2 billion yuan (around $165 million).
According to a report by Sohu Entertainment, when presale ticket sales are included, the film’s total revenue has already overtaken Avatar 3. This achievement also places Blades of the Guardians among the top 100 highest-grossing films in mainland China’s box office history.
Industry projections suggest the film could continue to grow its earnings. Current estimates indicate the final box office may exceed 1.4 billion yuan (around $193 million). If that happens, the film is expected to climb to around 75th place on the all-time mainland China box office chart.
From the current revenue, investors have reportedly received a share of about 427 million yuan (around $59 million). If the total box office reaches 1.4 billion yuan (around $193 million), the final revenue share for investors is expected to reach around 500 million yuan (around $69 million).
The epic film officially premiered on the second day of the 2026 Lunar New Year. Blades of the Guardians is directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, a filmmaker widely known for his contributions to martial arts cinema. The project has attracted major attention for bringing together a large cross-generational cast in one massive production.
According to Beijing News, the actors involved in the film have collectively portrayed 391 action roles throughout their careers. This remarkable figure makes the film feel like a celebration of Chinese action cinema, uniting martial arts performers from different eras on the same screen.
Representing the senior generation born in the 1960s are prominent figures such as Jet Li and Kara Wai. The core generation, born in the 1970s and 1980s, includes influential stars like Wu Jing and Nicholas Tse.
Meanwhile, the younger generation features rising actors such as Ci Sha and Yu Shi, who have gained recognition in recent years through major action projects.
The cast is further strengthened by veteran performers including Tony Leung Ka-fai, Yu Rongguang, Max Zhang, and Wen Junhui, creating a rare multi-generational collaboration in contemporary Chinese action cinema.
Among the senior actors, Tony Leung Ka-fai has appeared in 46 action films throughout his career, including well-known titles such as New Dragon Gate Inn and Ashes of Time. Meanwhile, Kara Wai stands out as one of the most prolific performers in the genre, having starred in 83 action films, including Swordsman III: The East Is Red and Iron Monkey.
In terms of commercial achievements, Wu Jing holds the highest box office record among the cast members, with total earnings reaching 9.802 billion yuan (around $1.35 billion). His success comes from major hits such as SPL: Kill Zone, Wolf Warrior, and The Battle at Lake Changjin.
Blades of the Guardians also marks Jet Li’s return to a historical martial arts action film after about 15 years. The project is said to be one he strongly supported, particularly to encourage the younger generation of action stars, including Wu Jing.
With Yuen Woo-ping, now 81, returning to the director’s chair, Wu Jing has even described the film as potentially the “last grand martial arts celebration” in Chinese cinema. If that proves true, Blades of the Guardians could stand not just as another action movie, but as a landmark project that brings together decades of martial arts filmmaking on one epic screen.
