Review: The Return of the Lame Hero – China’s Most Underrated National Day Dark Horse
By: Richard Ren / Critic
During China’s 2025 National Day holiday, The Return of the Lame Hero stands out as the most paradoxical release: praised by critics yet rejected by the market. In just three days, its box office barely surpassed RMB 20 million, with Maoyan projecting a total of less than RMB 40 million. Yet on Douban, it leads the holiday slate with an impressive 7.5 rating. This “acclaimed but underperforming” status makes it both the most underrated dark horse of the season and a stark reflection of today’s reality-under the dominance of short-form video and fast-food entertainment, audiences’ patience, taste, and appreciation of film artistry are being steadily eroded.
Fresh Concept, Razor-Sharp Storytelling
Set against the backdrop of rampant train theft in 1990s China, the film follows rookie anti-pickpocket officer Bi Zhengming (Wang Anyu), who is left disabled on his first day of duty but infiltrates the notorious gang “Rongmen” as an undercover agent. The narrative balances the brutality of a police-criminal showdown with the smoky atmosphere of the underworld and moral trials of human nature. Director Tong Zhijian demonstrates a fierce command of action choreography and editing; the train-set ensemble sequences-brimming with elaborate pickpocket schemes and reversals-push the boundaries of the Chinese crime genre.
Breakout Performances, Lifelike Characters
Wang Anyu delivers a career-defining turn. His Bi Zhengming oscillates between sly cunning in disguise and heartbreaking resilience when confronting his ideals and limits. His “beggar look”-with greasy, matted hair and a limping gait-shatters the idolized image of a traffic-star actor, winning over skeptical audiences. Meanwhile, Zhang Tianai’s portrayal of “Big White Peach” oozes both grit and allure, embodying the spirit of an outlaw with her own code of honor. Every appearance of hers electrifies the screen, culminating in a finale where she nearly “steals the whole film.”
Substance Beneath the Thrills
While it inherits the symbolic realism of A World Without Thieves, the film is sharper and grittier. It’s more than just a crime actioner; it reflects the struggle to hold onto one’s convictions in adversity. The disability of Bi Zhengming deepens his tragedy, elevating the theme to one of resilience-“even when crippled, one must still prove oneself.”
Why the Box Office Struggled
Despite glowing reviews, the film’s commercial results have fallen short. At least five factors are at play:
Market preference and subject matter: National Day audiences gravitate toward patriotic blockbusters and family-friendly spectacles. A dark, realist story of pickpocketing offers novelty but lacks broad appeal.
Limited star power: Wang Anyu, though popular among younger fans, lacks proven box office draw. Veterans like Zhang Tianai and Nie Yuan command respect but not mass-market pull.
Inflated fan effect: Before release, Wang’s fans flooded social media with hashtags and trending campaigns, creating an illusion of hype. But the frenzy didn’t translate into tickets sold. The theaters stayed empty. Manufactured buzz can fake heat, but box office doesn’t lie.
Weak marketing: Compared with high-profile patriotic films and visual spectacles, The Return of the Lame Hero was nearly invisible in publicity, missing chances to reach wider audiences.
Declining audience discernment: In the age of short videos, many viewers are losing patience for complex narratives and nuanced symbolism. Fast-food aesthetics make works like this-stylish yet layered-seem “too heavy” or “too demanding.” The film’s cold reception says less about its flaws than about audiences’ shrinking appetite for depth.
A Dark Horse’s Slim Chance at Comeback
Interestingly, on October 3, the film achieved a rare “reverse drop,” its daily box office climbing instead of falling-an unusual feat during this crowded holiday. Meanwhile, top-tier stars like Hu Ge and Xiao Zhan have publicly endorsed it, stirring further discussion. If exhibitors extend its run with better scheduling, the film may well achieve a modest but resilient long-tail comeback.
Conclusion
The Return of the Lame Hero is a work of both entertainment and meaning, wielding sharp editing, vivid performances, and profound themes to prove the potential of Chinese crime cinema. Sadly, the market has not rewarded it in line with its critical reception. Yet perhaps, like its title suggests, Bi Zhengming’s “proof” is not about instant triumph, but about the value that time itself will reveal.
It may be the most underrated film of the 2025 National Day season, but for true cinephiles, it will be remembered as one of the year’s most important.
