Nanjing Photo Studio Dead To Rights

Synopsis

Based on real footage of the Nanjing Massacre, starring Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, and Gao Ye, civilians take refuge in a photo studio and preserve evidence of Japanese atrocities. Rated 8.8 on Douban, the highest-scoring Chinese-language film of the year.

Overview

Dead To Rights is a 2025 Chinese historical war drama film directed by Shen Ao, with a screenplay co-written by Xu Luyang, Zhang Ke, and Shen Ao. The film stars Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, Gao Ye, and Wang Xiao in leading roles, with Zhou You in a special appearance, and Yang Enyou and Arata Haruka in supporting roles, and Wang Zhen'er in a cameo. It was released in mainland China on July 25, 2025.

The film is based on real photographic evidence of Japanese war crimes during the Nanjing Massacre. It tells the story of a group of ordinary Nanjing residents who take refuge in the "Jixiang Photo Studio." To survive one more day, they are forced to help a Japanese military photographer develop negatives, all while secretly preserving the evidence of the atrocities.

With an exceptionally high rating of 8.8, the film topped the 2025 Douban list of highest-rated Chinese-language films and was named the best domestic drama of the year.

Plot

During the Nanjing Massacre, a group of ordinary citizens hides in the Jixiang Photo Studio in Nanjing. Under the iron heel of the Japanese army, their lives are constantly under threat.

To survive as long as possible, they are forced to help a Japanese military photographer develop negatives that document the atrocities. Yet, beneath their seemingly compliant exterior, these civilians secretly preserve the photographic evidence of the crimes.

The story revolves around the "Japanese war crime photos," using historical photographs as a basis to reveal the origin of these images and the story behind how the evidence came to light. A group of ordinary people living in the cracks of history guard the truth in their own way.

Cast

Production & Reception

Director Shen Ao has previously directed multiple realist films, excelling at telling grand historical stories from the perspective of ordinary people. The screenwriting team, composed of Xu Luyang, Zhang Ke, and Shen Ao, provided a solid script foundation for the film.

Based on real historical photographs, the film adopts a restrained narrative approach in its artistic expression, avoiding excessive sentimentality. Instead, it moves the audience through the choices made by ordinary people under extreme circumstances.

In terms of box office, the film soared after its release, grossing over 900 million RMB in July alone, accumulating over 2.7 billion RMB during the summer season, and ultimately exceeding 2.89 billion RMB in total box office, setting a new record for historical films in China's summer box office history.

Cultural Impact

Dead To Rights has been hailed as the best drama of 2025, moving countless audiences to tears. The film's artistic portrayal of the Nanjing Massacre has sparked profound societal reflection on history.

Not only did the film achieve immense commercial success domestically, but it also had a far-reaching impact on historical education, allowing more people to understand the truth of that period through cinema.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/36809864/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/南京照相馆/65799216
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/南京照相馆
4. New Hunan: https://m.voc.com.cn/xhn/news/202509/30346507.html