The best films to see in Beijing this February

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This month, more Hollywood blockbusters make their way to China's cinemas. Take a look at our picks of the best ongoing and upcoming releases in February.

Events disappear from this page as they pass, so if you're looking at a sparse page you missed the boat [sad face]. But come back next month for another glut of events to keep you entertained.

General release

The Wandering Earth

Critics' pick

Adapted from a short story by renowned sci-fi writer Liu Cixin, director Frant Gwo's much-anticipated The Wandering Earth is being hailed as China's biggest sci-fi movie to date. The premise? As the sun is about to die out, humanity sets a plan in motion to launch planet Earth out of orbit and to find a new home in space.

Cinemas around Beijing 05 Feb - 05 Mar

Alita: Battle Angel

Critics' pick

James Cameron (Avatar) and Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) create a groundbreaking new heroine in Alita: Battle Angel, an action-packed story of hope, love and empowerment. Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned Alita (Rosa Salazar) is found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic.

Cinemas around Beijing 22 Feb - 19 Apr

Green Book

Critics' pick

'Tony Lip' Vallelonga (a pizza-chomping Viggo Mortensen) is a brutal NYC club bouncer prone to howyadoins. On the hunt for work, he gets an unlikely gig at the invitation of Don Shirley (cryptic Mahershala Ali, superb), a finicky black jazz pianist who requires a tough driver to escort him on a tour of the Deep South. Tony’s no bleeding heart, but for the right price, he’s willing to swallow his pride.

Cinemas around Beijing 1-29 Mar

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Critics' pick

The Hidden World is a utopia to which Hiccup must lead his clan when an infamous dragon hunter called Grimmel (F Murray Abraham) appears on the scene. Their journey is complicated when Toothless falls for Light Fury, a mysterious female dragon with cloaking powers. Hiccup becomes part love guru, part third wheel in a dynamic that lends the movie its best and most charming moments.

Cinemas around Beijing 1-29 Mar

Still playing

Uncle Drew

Critics' pick

Dax (Lil Rel Howery) spends all of his life savings entering a street basketball tournament but soon finds both his cash and hopes of winning are gone as a long-term rival takes control of his team. When Dax discovers Uncle Drew (NBA star Kyrie Irving) – a basketball legend well past his supposed prime – he convinces Drew to round up his old crew so they can form a new team.

Cinemas around Beijing 11 Jan - 22 Feb

Escape Room

Critics' pick

This horror-thriller may have a familiar plot, but with nuanced twists, turns and thrills, Adam Robitel's 2019 Escape Room has raked in the earnings from overseas box offices so far. As six total strangers find themselves locked in an escape room, they must find their way out before the game becomes a lot more deadly than fun.

Cinemas around Beijing 18 Jan - 22 Feb

A Dog's Way Home

Critics' pick

Directed by Charles Martin Smith and co-written by the author of the original book, W. Bruce Cameron, this latest film about how fantastic dogs are follows the story of Bella. Bryce Dallas Howard lends her voice to Bella, and stars alongside Ashley Judd, Alexandra Shipp and Jonah Hauer-King, as the loyal dog journeys over 400 miles to make her way back home.

Cinemas around Beijing 18 Jan - 22 Feb

Dead Pigs

Critics' pick

Based on true events, modern and traditional Chinese culture clash in director and writer Cathy Yan's comic debut. As thousands of dead pigs float down the river, the lives of five strangers – a hapless pig farmer, a feisty salon owner, a romantic busboy, an ambitious American architect and a spoiled rich girl – converge and collide in rapidly changing Shanghai.

Cinemas around Beijing 25 Jan - 08 Mar

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