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| Per Aspera ad Astra Secures Netflix Global Deal Before Premiere as Pre-Sales Cross 30 Million. (Photo: Sina) |
Netflix has officially secured the global streaming rights for upcoming Chinese sci-fi blockbuster Per Aspera ad Astra (星河入梦), locking in the deal before the film even hits cinemas. The movie is set to premiere on day one of Chinese New Year 2026, with pre-sale tickets already open and momentum building fast.
The production team has unveiled a bold “Buy Tickets Now” poster, instantly sparking buzz across Chinese social media. The move signals strong confidence in the film’s box office pull, especially during the competitive Spring Festival slot, traditionally one of the biggest movie seasons in China.
This isn’t Netflix’s first calculated move in Chinese cinema, but the timing of this acquisition stands out.
Securing a title before its theatrical release is seen as a major vote of confidence, suggesting that the platform believes Per Aspera ad Astra has genuine global appeal, strong visual production values, and cross-cultural storytelling power.
Directed by Han Yan and executive produced by Fu Ruoqing, the film stars Dylan Wang as Biao Ge and Victoria Song as Simon.
Supporting roles include Zu Feng as Lao Bai, Luo Haiqiong as Simon’s mother, and Wang Duo in a special appearance as Ge Yang.
Pre-sales have reportedly surpassed 30 million RMB, showing solid early demand. With a claimed 1.38 million frames of visual effects, the film is positioning itself as a high-concept sci-fi spectacle tailored for big screens and premium formats.
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Set in a near-future world, the story revolves around a virtual dream system called “Liang Dream”, allowing users to customise their ideal realities and “win at life” inside controlled dreamscapes.
But when the dream system begins to collapse, chaos spreads across layered dream worlds.
Biao Ge and Simon are forced to navigate stacked dream realities, tracking hidden clues across multiple “dream copies” while the line between virtual and real becomes increasingly blurred.
Memory inconsistencies, identity puzzles, and manipulated pasts form the emotional backbone of the narrative.
The latest trailer, teases a complex structure filled with collapsing dream layers, shifting identities, and suspicious character motives.
Viewers have already begun speculating online about key mysteries:
• Why does Lao Bai’s injury not match his own recollection?
• Why does Simon’s mother act in ways that contradict Simon’s past memories?
• How does Ge Yang possess the ability to steal or alter others’ dreams?
These clues hint at deeper themes surrounding memory manipulation, artificial identity, and hidden architects behind the crisis.
The official global theatrical rollout begins in March 2026 across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malaysia.
Singapore follows in April, with more territories expected to be announced. A full Netflix global streaming release is scheduled for Summer 2026, expanding its reach to over 190 countries.
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| Sina |
Fan and netizen reactions have been sharply divided, though largely energised. Some viewers are hyped, calling the early Netflix acquisition a “quality certification” and praising the growing ambition of Chinese sci-fi. They see it as proof that domestic productions are stepping confidently onto the international stage.
Others remain cautiously optimistic, noting that pre-release hype does not automatically translate into strong storytelling. A few netizens have questioned whether the layered dream concept will deliver emotional depth alongside spectacle, rather than relying purely on visual impact.
The genre is becoming more commercially confident, more visually ambitious, and increasingly export-ready. Chinese New Year 2026 approaching, all eyes are on whether Per Aspera ad Astra can turn strong pre-sales and international backing into both box office success and long-term global recognition.
Are you planning to catch this one during CNY? Do you think this could become the next major Chinese sci-fi breakthrough, or is the hype running ahead of itself?