Conclusion

This chapter concludes my analysis of baokuan films’ emergence as a consequence of globalization, nationalism, and active audiences. It also offers an afterthought on the baokuan film phenomenon given the changes in Chinese commercial filmmaking during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes include the declining number of baokuan films in 2021 and 2022 and the politicization of blockbusters, exemplified by The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021). The chapter concludes that the baokuan film phenomenon is always changing, given the phenomenon&s;s high dependence on the economic, political, and social context both within China and in the world. However, it is important to comprehend the baokuan films to understand the contemporary Chinese film industry and commercial filmmaking.