Defeated by 'Sunshine Girls Choir'! The Most Popular Taiwanese Film of Recent Times is This: Popularity Surpasses 'Lily of the Field', Netizens Cried After Watching

Taiwanese audiences have shown increasing interest in domestic films in recent years, with discussions ranging from gangster action to folk horror, family comedies, and classic films spanning decades. Recently, 'Network Thermometer DailyView' analyzed the online buzz for Chinese-language films from July 8 to August 6, 2026, using the 'KEYPO Big Data Key Engine'. 'The Great Mist' topped the list with 10,198 mentions, followed by 'Lily of the Field' with 9,183, and 'Net Red Dad' with 8,863. The volume of discussions reflects online buzz, not necessarily audience favorability, with 'The Great Mist' surpassing 10,000 mentions. What are the top 10 most discussed domestic films in Taiwan recently? We reveal the complete list.

10th Place: Wang Shih-Chien, Cheng Jen-Shiou's 'Gangster' Series The 'Gangster' series is one of Taiwan's most representative gangster film IPs in recent years, starting with the 2015 debut 'Gangster' and expanding into 'Gangster 2: The King is Back', 'Gangster: Drifting', 'Gangster: Big Bridge Head', and 'Gangster: Battle Formation'. The series has built a world of intertwined forces such as Beiguan, Dingzhuang, and Dabridge Head. Wang Shih-Chien's 'Ren Ge' and Cheng Jen-Shiou's 'A Qing' are highly recognizable characters in the series. The core of the series' long-term appeal lies in the brotherhood, conflict of interest, and power struggle between gangs. The series has had fluctuating reviews over the years but has accumulated a loyal fanbase. Some netizens describe watching 'Gangster' as similar to following 'Young and Dangerous' in the past, with 'high entertainment value'. Others believe 'the series has been quite good since the second installment'. Every time a new film is released, the relationships between characters, the rise and fall of forces, and the fate of characters often become the focus of fan discussions.

9th Place: Wen Ying, Zhuang Bo-Wen's 'Magical Grandma' 'Magical Grandma', released in 1998 and directed by Wang Xiao Di, is an important representative work of Taiwanese animated films. Wen Ying provided the voice for Grandma, while Zhuang Bo-Wen voiced Dou Dou, a boy who moves from the city to Keelung to live with his grandmother. The story begins with the Lunar Seventh Month, Universal Salvation, ghosts, and folk beliefs. Dou Dou, who initially resists Grandma, accidentally releases an evil spirit and gradually comes into contact with another world, beginning to understand Grandma, death, and the emotions behind Taiwanese traditional folk customs. Years later, 'Magical Grandma' remains a childhood classic for many audiences. Some netizens, after rewatching, said, 'No matter how many times I watch it, I always have new insights and thoughts', and described it as 'a Taiwanese animated masterpiece that can be savored slowly'. The intertwining of grandmother-grandchild affection, Taiwanese life scenes, and Mid-Autumn Festival customs creates an adventure story that, even after more than twenty years, can evoke many people's memories of growth.

8th Place: Ko Chen-Tung, Mei Ching-Yen's 'I Didn't Make a Wish Before Blowing Out the Candles' 'I Didn't Make a Wish Before Blowing Out the Candles' is co-directed by Zhou Jiong-Hong and Hu Jin-Xian, starring Ko Chen-Tung, Mei Ching-Yen, and Jin Yan-Ling. Set against the backdrop of Macau casinos and urban underworld life, Ko Chen-Tung plays Zhi Hua, a debt collector who has lost his way in life, while Mei Ching-Yen plays JoJo, a girl who lives with her grandmother. JoJo accidentally obtains a batch of valuable chips that she cannot redeem in the casino herself, so she seeks Zhi Hua's help. The two, each with their own plans, embark on a story revolving around money, debt, and family affection. Before the film's official release in Taiwan, it was first shown at film festivals. Mei Ching-Yen, making her film debut, became a focal point for audiences. Some viewers praised her with 'A-Mei is so cute', while others exclaimed after watching: 'Her first acting performance is amazing... I admire her with all my heart.' Ko Chen-Tung gained weight for the role and challenged himself with Cantonese, paired with Mei Ching-Yen's natural performance, making this age-gap duo a major highlight of the film.

7th Place: Liu Guan-Ting, Yu Xiang-Ning's 'Double Happiness' 'Double Happiness' is directed by Xu Cheng-Jie, who also directed 'Lonely Flavor'. Liu Guan-Ting plays the groom Gao Ting-Sheng, and Yu Xiang-Ning plays the bride Wu Dai-Ling. The couple initially wanted to have a wedding of their own, but Ting-Sheng's divorced parents refused to meet, each wanting to host their son's wedding. After consulting a fortune teller, both sides chose the same day and time for their banquets, forcing Ting-Sheng and Dai-Ling to hold two weddings in one day. The newlyweds, exhausted, gradually uncover the wounds left by their families of origin. The film uses lively wedding banquets to depict family relationships, resonating with many viewers. Some netizens directly called it 'the best dramatic film I've seen recently', even saying 'it feels like I'm watching my own life while watching the actors perform'. Married viewers associated the plot with the pressure they faced from both sides of the family when planning their weddings, adding a layer of realism to the chaotic wedding banquet in the film.

6th Place: Xia Yu-Qiao, Zhou Cheng-En's 'Zongxi' Series The 'Zongxi' series starts with the 'sending meat dumplings' folk custom from the coastal area of Changhua, Taiwan, bringing 'hanging ghost', Zhong Kui beliefs, and local taboos to the big screen. The first installment stars Xia Yu-Qiao and Zhou Cheng-En, with Zhou playing Wei Wei, who shoots supernatural topics, and Xia playing his fiancée Shu Yi. The two get involved in a series of deaths while shooting the meat dumpling ceremony. Subsequent works continue to expand the folk and supernatural worldview, making 'Zongxi' one of the most discussed series in Taiwanese indigenous horror films. The 'Zongxi' series has always had mixed reviews. Some criticize the first installment as 'too formulaic', finding some horror scenes and plot developments predictable. However, the same review also praises 'the meat dumpling ceremony, which is very detailed and authentic', and calls 'the actors a major highlight'. The freshness brought by folk elements, combined with differing opinions on the level of horror and the quality of the plot, also often spark discussions about new installments in the series.

5th Place: Liu Guan-Ting, Bai Run-Yin's 'Old Fox' 'Old Fox' is directed by Xiao Ya-Quan, set in 1989 when Taiwan's stock market was booming, and prices and living costs were rising rapidly. Liu Guan-Ting plays Liao Tai-Lai, a single father who believes in hard work and kindness, and Bai Run-Yin plays his son Liao Jie. The father and son work hard to save money, hoping to buy a house to realize the dream of his late wife opening a hair salon. Liao Jie later meets Chen Mu-Yi, who plays the 'Old Fox' boss Xie, and between the principles of life his father taught him and the survival rules Xie practices, he gradually sees the reality and class differences of the adult world. The film's period atmosphere and the actors' performances have been highly praised by many viewers. Some netizens exclaimed after watching, 'This film is very impressive', and praised 'the whole film is very atmospheric', with furniture, shop decorations, and character costumes making people feel as if they had gone back to the past. Others believe the work 'has a good grasp of pacing', and the acting of Bai Run-Yin, Liu Guan-Ting, and Chen Mu-Yi from three generations has also been praised as a highlight of the film.

4th Place: Chen Yi-Han, Wong Chien-Yu's 'Sunshine Girls Choir' 'Sunshine Girls Choir' is directed by Lin Xiao-Jian, with Chen Yi-Han playing Hui-Zhen, who was imprisoned for accidentally killing her husband and gave birth to a daughter in prison, but must face the reality of mother and daughter being separated. Wong Chien-Yu plays Grandma Yu-Ying, who has a singing background. In the film, a group of female inmates from different backgrounds form a choir, finding new meaning in life through rehearsals, arguments, and mutual support. The group performances of Chen Yi-Han, Wong Chien-Yu, Zhong Xin-Ling, Sun Shu-Shui, An Xin-Ya, and Miao Ke-Li form the emotional core of the film. After its release, many viewers talked about the tear-jerking scenes in the film. Some viewers gave the conclusion 'it's good, worth watching', while some netizens described seeing 'the person next to them almost crying to the point of suffocation'. On the other hand, some believe that some of the tear-jerking arrangements are somewhat deliberate, showing that the work's emotional rendering is quite a matter of personal taste. The performance of the cast has been highly praised, especially Sun Shu-Shui, Wong Chien-Yu, and Zhong Xin-Ling, who have been widely discussed.

3rd Place: Wang Shih-Chien, Chen Yi-Chia's 'Net Red Dad' 'Net Red Dad' combines gangster, family, and net red culture, with Wang Shih-Chien playing Tian Ge, a gangster boss just released from prison, and newcomer Chen Yi-Chia playing his daughter 'Little Rabbit', who wants to make a name for herself in the online world. After the father and daughter reunite after a long time, their values clash at every turn. Tian Ge mobilizes his subordinates to boost his daughter's popularity in secret, and he himself unexpectedly becomes an online sensation. Zhang Huai-Qiu and Luo Zhi-Xiang play a gangster subordinate and a popular net red, respectively, adding gangster conflicts and live streaming culture to the story beyond family affection.

2nd Place: Huang Kun-Xuan, Li Shu-Lian's 'Lily of the Field' The 1989 film 'Lily of the Field' is adapted from Zhong Zhaozheng's novel of the same name, directed by Yang Li-Guang and scripted by Wu Nian-Zhen. Huang Kun-Xuan plays Gu A-Ming, a boy from a poor family but with great painting talent, and Li Shu-Lian plays his sister Gu Cha-Mei, who takes care of her younger brother. When the passionate art teacher Guo Yun-Tian discovers A-Ming's talent and hopes to have him represent the school in a competition, he encounters obstacles from local power, the education system, and class differences. Whether children's talents can truly be seen by adults becomes the most heartbreaking question in the entire film. After 37 years, the digitally restored version of 'Lily of the Field' still makes different generations of audiences cry. Some netizens, after rewatching, said, 'I was moved again'.