LayarHijau – Chinese sci-fi film The Decisive Moment (群星闪耀时) has been unexpectedly pulled from theaters just one day after opening on July 25. The announcement was made by the production team through the film’s official social media account on July 26.
In an official statement, the filmmakers said the decision came after careful consideration. They confirmed that the film’s release schedule has been adjusted, although no new theatrical release date has been announced.
“After careful consideration by the entire team, we have decided to adjust the release schedule for The Decisive Moment. Set against the backdrop of China’s space program, this science fiction film is a tribute to generations of aerospace pioneers. It tells a story of hope across time, deep-space exploration, and life-changing choices,” the statement read.
The team continued, “As a group of young filmmakers, we imagined countless times what it would be like for this film to meet audiences on the big screen. But after looking at the current circumstances, we realized this story deserves to reunite with audiences at a more appropriate time.”
Along with the announcement, all promotional events, including the film’s roadshow and other offline activities, have been canceled. The production team also confirmed that ticket refunds will be arranged for moviegoers who had already purchased tickets.
Produced by Huang Jianxin and directed by Zhang Disha, The Decisive Moment stars Huang Bo, Wu Lei, Gao Ye, and Sun Yang. The film follows three Chinese astronauts in 2035 who lose contact with mission control after an accident during their return journey to Earth. As hope begins to fade, they receive a mysterious signal transmitted from 1970. The message becomes their only chance of survival, linking two generations across a span of 65 years.
Wu Lei plays Zhao Jihu, a young aerospace researcher working in 1970. His groundbreaking work becomes the crucial link between the two timelines and ultimately the astronauts’ last hope. Huang Bo portrays Zheng Tongzhou, a payload specialist aboard the 2035 space mission.
Despite its abrupt withdrawal, The Decisive Moment received a generally positive response from audiences during its brief theatrical run. The film debuted with a 7.6 rating on Douban before slipping slightly to 7.5. More than 54,000 users marked the film as watched, while approximately 52,000 submitted ratings. Reviews were largely favorable, with three- and four-star ratings accounting for about 65.2% of all reviews.
The film also earned impressive audience scores of 9.6 and 9.7 on China’s two major ticketing platforms.
Before being pulled from theaters, The Decisive Moment grossed approximately 58.37 million yuan, with the producers receiving an estimated 18.95 million yuan in revenue sharing. It ranked third on the daily box office chart, behind All Wishes Come True! and Kung Fu Soccer. Chinese box office trackers had previously projected a final gross of around 163 million yuan. With its theatrical release now suspended, it remains unclear when The Decisive Moment will return to cinemas.
