Feature: Science movies captivate audiences in stunning comeback

Director Wang Jie (1st L) and cast members work at the shooting scene of the science film “Seek Out Natural Mysteries” in Daye, central China’s Hubei Province, July 14, 2021. (Xinhua)
by Xinhua writer Yuan Quan
BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) — The genres of comedy, action and thriller have been dominating Chinese cinemas this summer. Now, another keyword has come to the fore — science.
Two Chinese documentary movies focusing on the scientific exploration of Earth’s natural phenomena have been on nationwide release since July. Although not huge box office hits over the past two months, they represent a milestone for Chinese theaters, screening homegrown science films after a gap of 24 years. The last science movie to hit Chinese theaters was “Cosmos and Man” in 2000.
The two new movies are the first installments in a series titled “Seek Out Natural Mysteries,” presenting stories on such topics as Cambrian fossils, geomagnetic reversals, turbulence and fast radio bursts — complex concepts that frequently feature in the global scientific literature. Each segment includes authentic explanations, historical re-enactments and animated demonstrations.
Director Wang Jie was delighted to see that the audience was not put off by the hard-science content. “With Chinese people’s rapidly growing interest in science, it is the perfect time for Chinese science movies to shine on the silver screen,” said Wang.
The enthusiasm for science is now pervasive in China, with large crowds flocking to science museums, headlines frequently grabbed by scientific breakthroughs, and scientists treated as admired figures with millions of online followers. The term “science” has emerged as a keyword in government documents, reflecting China’s stance that science and technology are fundamental and strategic pillars for the country’s modernization.
Wang, 46, was a renowned science writer before venturing into the world of filmmaking. He has authored dozens of books on popularizing science and hosts a science program on social media.
Not content with his achievements, Wang aspired to create a high-quality science film akin to the documentaries produced by the BBC or Discovery. He referred to the science movie released in theaters as the “Mt. Qomolangma of science popularization,” believing that putting science on the silver screen could have a profound impact.
In 2018, he began learning how to shoot a movie, making use of online resources and organizing his team.
Besides directing, he also worked as the scriptwriter, producer and leading actor in his movie series, always wearing a white T-shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, giving the impression of an erudite teacher.
In the beginning, Wang excelled at storytelling but was not good at transforming words into visuals. As a result, before each shoot, he had to first explain scientific concepts to his cameramen. There is a lack of professional science cinematographers in China, he noted.
With two films in the series now in theaters, Wang says a third has already been produced and secured the preliminary green light for its theatrical release.
The fast-paced storytelling and rich special effects of Wang’s films have garnered praise from many viewers. Jiang Shiliang, a member of the Shanghai Science Writers Association, said Wang’s films vividly showcase the importance and allure of scientific thinking.
However, what Wang values most is scientific accuracy. His films incorporate numerous published research papers and involve a group of scientists and researchers who contributed as consultants, even making appearances in the films.
In the past, science popularization was not held in the same high regard as scientific research, often viewed as less important for enhancing a scientist’s professional reputation. However, in recent years, the Chinese leadership has redefined its significance by likening scientific innovation and popularization to “two wings for realizing innovation-driven development.”
Tsinghua University professor Fu Song made an appearance in one of the films to explain the fascinating concept of turbulence. As an expert in fluid physics and a contributor to the aerodynamic design of the domestically produced C919 aircraft, he strongly supports science movies as a means of popularizing science, especially for those often-overlooked disciplines like turbulence, which is ubiquitous in daily life and deserves to be understood by the public.
According to Wang, his films were initially aimed at adults over 30, but they surprisingly appealed to teenagers, and attracted children and their parents.
Despite her tight travel schedule, Xiao Heng from Changsha, Hunan Province, has brought her 8-year-old son to watch Wang’s film on their trip to Beijing. She admitted that, although some parts were difficult for the boy to understand, it was still preferable to watching cartoons, as watching such a science film was as educational as taking a classroom course.
When the movies are in theaters, Wang has to consider their commercial aspect. To enhance the films’ profitability, he agreed with the distribution company’s promotional strategy of targeting teenagers. He also decided to make future films more accessible to a younger audience.
The two films have garnered 100,000 views to date and generated revenue of 2 million yuan (about 280,000 U.S. dollars). However, the production costs amounted to approximately 3.1 million yuan.
“This could be one of the reasons why so few businessmen are willing to invest in science films,” Wang said. “If you take it as a business, you will inevitably lose money.”
However, film insiders are optimistic about the progress of science movies. Liu Lulu, director of the business department at the China Science Film and Video Association, said that as people’s scientific literacy improves, the demand for science-related services will increase and become more diversified.
The association plans to offer students the opportunity to enjoy high-quality cinema screenings at a more affordable price in science museums, campuses and other venues, which could help science movie-makers to make ends meet. ■

Director Wang Jie (R) and cast members work at the shooting scene of the science film “Seek Out Natural Mysteries” in Hengdian World Studio in Dongyang, east China’s Zhejiang Province, May 20, 2023. (Xinhua)