Movies Not to Miss: October 2020

Writer: Florey DM

Which of these are you going to watch?

October will see two of the previously postponed Chinese New Year films finally making it to the big screen. Animated film "Jiang Zi Ya: Legend Of Deification" and sports biographical film "Leap" were both supposed to have been released last January but when COVID-19 forced cinemas in China to temporarily shut down, the movies, along with many others, had to be postponed.

Other than the abovementioned two, let's take a look below at what other movies we can look forward to in cinemas this October!

(Take note that while these dates remain valid at the time of writing, the current uncertainty surrounding movie releases means that some of the movies below could be rescheduled).

Jiang Zi Ya: Legend of Deification

"Jiang Zi Ya: Legend of Deification" was originally set as one of the Chinese New Year blockbusters this year, but its release last January had to be postponed due to the pandemic. This animated film directed by Cheng Teng and Li Wei serves as the continuation of the 2019 movie, "Ne Zha". In it, the titular Jiang forms an army of people with special powers to overthrow the Shang kingdom, as ordered by the gods. Ne Zha joins him as one of the generals in the army.

General Release Date: 1 October

Leap

Similar to "Jiang Zi Ya", biographical sports drama "Leap" was supposed to have been released last CNY. Now it is finally confirmed for release this October. Directed by Peter Chan, it tells the true stories – spread over more than 40 years – of China`s women`s national volleyball team. Leading the cast are Chinese movie stars Gong Li and Huang Bo.

General Release Date: 1 October

My People, My Homeland

Several renowned Chinese filmmakers once again team up to create an anthology film consisting of several short stories, as a follow up to 2019`s "My People, My Country". Telling a total of five stories this time in the Zhang Yimou-produced "My People, My Homeland" are directors Chen Sicheng, Deng Chao, Ning Hao, Peng Damo, Xu Zheng and Yu Baimei.

General Release Date: 8 October

Coffee Or Tea?

Derek Hui returns with comedy drama "Coffee Or Tea?", starring Liu Hao Ran, Peng Yuchang and Yin Fang as three men who leave the big city to return to their 1000-year old village, Yunnan. There the trio decides to work together to set up an e-commerce business. But with their very different personalities, doing business together might prove to be challenging.

General Release Date: 15 October

The Golden Holiday

Directed by Kim Bong-Han, "The Golden Holiday" stars Kwak Do-won as a laidback detective from the countryside, who goes abroad for the first time when he takes his family on a vacation to the Philippines. However, trouble doesn't escape him as he becomes entangled in a crime planned by a mobster named Patrick. As he tries to prove his innocence with the help of a tour guide, Man-Cheol, he also becomes intrigued by the case surrounding `Yamashita`s Gold` that his old friend Yong-bae has told him about.

General Release Date: 15 October