China’s latest box office draw: spy thriller backed by state espionage agency

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Alyssa ChenFebruary 19, 2026 at 01:50 PM

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Zhang Yimou's spy thriller, *Scare Out*, backed by China's Ministry of State Security, is a recent box office success in China. The film, based on real-life cases, depicts counter-espionage agents tracking down a researcher who leaked information about a stealth fighter and uncovering a mole within their ranks. While the film doesn't specify the fighter jet model, it mirrors a publicized case from March 2023 involving a Chinese engineer sentenced to death for leaking secrets, possibly related to the FC-31 stealth fighter. Released during the Year of the Horse, *Scare Out* earned 483 million yuan (US$70 million) in its first three days, ranking second behind the comedy *Pegasus 3*.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Maoyan 40% FC-31 60% J-35 60% Zhang Yimou 70% Ministry of State Security 90% China ×290%

Keywords

state espionage 90% stealth fighter 80% counter-espionage 70% mole within ranks 60% foreign spies 50% chinese engineer 50% fifth-generation stealth fighter 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: 0.05

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South China Morning Post

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90%

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state espionage stealth fighter counter-espionage mole within ranks foreign spies chinese engineer fifth-generation stealth fighter

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