3. "Soul"

"Soul," the latest animated feature from Disney and Pixar, is looking to be a strong Oscar contender. Exploring the seemingly heavy philosophies surrounding life and death, the film's release was initially largely ignored in China until rave reviews from critics and word-of-mouth praise from audiences saved it, forcing cinemas to extend screenings. The film is still showing and by Jan. 18 had grossed 282 million yuan, making it a dark horse among last year's releases and indicating that high-quality content pays off in China. In North America, meanwhile, audiences had to settle with watching it at home as it also went straight to the Disney+ platform.