“The Battle at Lake Changjin,” a 176-minute epic starring Chinese actor Wu Jing, isn’t only the highest grossing film worldwide so far in 2021 but has become China’s biggest film ever — toppling 2017’s “Wolf Warrior 2,” which also stars Wu — according to ticketing platform Maoyan Entertainment. The movie was commissioned by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, otherwise known as the propaganda department.

The film tells the story of how People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) troops entered North Korea and valiantly defeated the Americans mid-last century. Since its September 30 release during China’s National Day, it has raked in a hefty $891 million, including presale tickets, according to Maoyan.