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| CMG China Film Awards 2026 Highlights Liu Haoran, Jackson Yee and Zhang Ziyi Among Big Winners. (Credits: CMG) |
The CMG China Film Awards 2026 has delivered its verdict, with Dead to Rights emerging as the defining title of the year, sweeping major categories and cementing its position at the centre of China’s film landscape. Announced on the evening of 20 March, the awards recognised a mix of commercial hits and critically driven projects, but it was clear early on which film had captured both industry backing and audience attention.
Dead to Rights secured Best Drama Film, while also powering individual wins for Liu Haoran and Gao Ye, both recognised for their performances in the same project.
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The film’s dominance extended behind the camera, with Shen Ao sharing Best Director honours and also contributing to the award-winning screenplay alongside Xu Luyang and Zhang Ke.
The scale of its success positions it not just as a popular release, but as a benchmark for recent Chinese drama cinema.
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The acting categories, however, reflected a broader spread of recognition.
Jackson Yee claimed Best Drama Actor for Resurrection, reinforcing his continued rise as one of the industry’s most bankable young stars.
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Meanwhile, veteran actress Zhang Ziyi took home Best Drama Actress for She’s Got No Name, a win that signals both longevity and sustained relevance in a fast-evolving film scene.
#ZhangZiYi reuters attend CMG中国电影盛典 / CMG China Movie Ceremony.
— fkshi (@FKShi) March 20, 2026
20/03/26 pic.twitter.com/FfSiTfgnhz
Elsewhere, genre filmmaking received its own spotlight. Detective Chinatown 1900 secured Best Comedy Film, continuing the franchise’s strong presence in mainstream cinema.
The Shadow’s Edge team shouting “The Shadow’s Edge 2!!” at the CMG China Film Gala today 😭
— ^≖◡≖^ ੭ (@moontomeetyou) March 20, 2026
can’t wait aaa pls come soon 😭 https://t.co/680IbxnS44 pic.twitter.com/4UsVGa1ncK
Action category honours went to The Shadow’s Edge, with Tony Leung and Zhang Zifeng recognised for their performances, adding further weight to a film already noted for its scale and execution.
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Animation also held firm, with Ne Zha 2 winning Best Animated Film alongside Best Visual Effects, while director Jiao Zi shared the Best Director award, underlining the growing influence of animated storytelling within the industry.
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In the supporting categories, Da Peng and Ma Li led the comedy acting wins for The Lychee Road and You Are the Best respectively, while Wang Anyu was named Best New Actor for The Return of The Lame Hero.
Speech by Wang Anyu at the CMG China Film Awards as Best New Actor of the Year for his role in The Return of the Lame Hero
— 𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂妮莎 (@gleambuss) March 20, 2026
(rough eng trans)
💙: “Hello everyone, I’m Wang Anyu. I sincerely apologize for not being able to attend in person due to filming commitments. First of… pic.twitter.com/2r9iFDk43d
The Best New Director award went to Yu Shui for Nobody, a project that also later appeared in the Cross-Genre Recognition category alongside The Lychee Road, highlighting its creative range.
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Music honours were awarded to Chen Chusheng for the original song “Miaotang Zhi Wai,” adding another layer of recognition for The Lychee Road.
Documentary filmmaking was not overlooked, with SHEN ZHOU 13 taking Best Documentary Film, reflecting continued interest in real-world storytelling alongside commercial cinema.
The spread of winners across categories suggests a year where both spectacle and narrative-driven projects found space to succeed.
Online reactions to the 2026 winners have been varied but engaged. Many viewers have praised the strong showing of Dead to Rights, calling it a deserved sweep given its performances and production scale.
Others have debated the dual winners in major acting categories, particularly the shared recognition for Best Drama Actor and Actress, with some arguing it reflects balance while others see it as a compromise.
Liu Haocun Performing at CMG China Film Gala:
liu haocun performing at the cmg 1st china film gala ✮⋆˙ pic.twitter.com/xRMimaGO5C
— liu haocun th — หลิวฮ่าวฉุน (@liuhaocunfans) March 21, 2026
The inclusion of both established names like Zhang Ziyi and rising figures like Jackson Yee has also sparked discussion about generational shifts within the industry.
What remains clear is that this year’s CMG China Film Awards has leaned into a blend of commercial success and artistic credibility, rather than favouring one over the other. From blockbuster franchises to tightly written dramas and expanding animation influence, the winners list paints a picture of an industry that is both stable and evolving.
.. the question now shifts from who won to what it all means for the next wave of Chinese cinema. Did your favourites make the cut, or were there notable surprises missing from the list?