A special cut of the action film "Operation Hadal" will be released nationwide on Aug. 30, following its underwhelming box office performance during this year's Spring Festival holiday. The re-edited version promises to deliver a more polished experience for audiences.

An IMAX poster for the re-release of "Operation Hadal." [Image courtesy of IMAX China]

Producers of the film noted that during the fiercely competitive Spring Festival season, the project failed to secure ideal screening arrangements, particularly prime-time slots. This resulted in many eager viewers missing the opportunity to experience its appeal on the big screen, leaving a sense of regret among numerous fans. Directed by Dante Lam, the film was touted as China's first nuclear submarine-themed action movie, but grossed only 393 million yuan ($54 million) during its initial release period.

Meanwhile, the film's producers and creative team studied feedback from the first wave of viewers, particularly discussions regarding the film's narrative pacing. In response to audience expectations and to present the movie in a more refined form, the creative team spent six months making adjustments and has now completed the special edition of "Operation Hadal."

The special recut edition focuses on the film's highly praised high-intensity action sequences, optimizing the narrative structure and refining its pacing. The storyline now centers more tightly on the coordinated operations between the elite Jiaolong commandos and the submarine team, maintaining a relentless pace that delivers a seamless, action-driven viewing experience. Newly added close-ups of team members and first-person combat perspectives significantly enhance the sense of immersion in the missions.

Moreover, the special edition is significantly enhanced technically, as its 48-frame high frame rate substantially improves visual impact and clarity. High-speed sequences now demonstrate unprecedented smoothness and precision, while the underwater scenes have been refined with more natural water movement and light refraction. Enhanced by premium theater technologies like IMAX, audiences can experience immersive deep-sea pressure and explosive surfacing moments — elevating the audiovisual impact to redefine action film standards.

It is worth noting that the entire film was produced under the Filmed for IMAX program, presented in IMAX's exclusive aspect ratio throughout. This delivers 26% more image content than standard theaters and offers a more impressive audiovisual experience.

The film's legacy extends far beyond the cinema. Its core settings — including the monumental set of the docking base for the cutting-edge nuclear submarine Longjing — have been transformed through a collaboration with China Movie Metropolis in Qingdao, Shandong province, into an immersive educational experience. Visitors can now engage up close with the allure of these cinematic marvels.

Actor Du Jiang speaks at a special screening event of "Operation Hadal" in Beijing, Aug. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

The film's distributors also emphasized that the re-release has been timed to coincide with commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. In the statement, they expressed: "Whether honoring the heroic martyrs who fought bloodily 80 years ago or the People's Navy forging ahead through waves in the new era, their sincere and fearless spirit in safeguarding the nation's peace remains unchanged." They added: "This special edition of 'Operation Hadal' is the highest tribute to the courage and wisdom of Chinese soldiers."

Lead actor Du Jiang attended a special screening in Beijing on Aug. 20 where he interacted with audience members. "I feel like it's more intense and thrilling than the first version," he said. "The narrative transitions are sharper and more relentless, creating an even stronger sense of tension that leaves us breathless."

Du also expressed his excitement for the upcoming V-Day military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3, emphasizing that China's current era of prosperity — demonstrating national strength — has filled the Chinese people with pride and served as inspiration for the film.

But he pointed out that while violence and bloodshed, as key elements in commercial films, have always appealed to audiences, a film like this cannot be defined solely by violence or so-called "violent aesthetics."

"I believe that an outstanding action film or war movie should ultimately carry an anti-war message — a call to lay down arms and cease conflict," he said. "Wars are raging in the world today, as we see in the news. I hope that when audiences watch this film, they will sincerely pray for children, soldiers and ordinary civilians still trapped in dire circumstances. I truly wish for a world of lasting peace and stability."