{{Infobox film | name = Decoded | image = Decoded (2024 film).jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Chen Sicheng | screenplay = Chen Sicheng <br> Christopher MacBride | based_on = {{Based on|''Decoded''|Mai Jia}} | producer = Chen Sicheng | starring = {{Plainlist| * Liu Haoran * John Cusack * Chen Daoming * Daniel Wu}} | cinematography = Cao Yu<ref name="THR2024" /> | editing = Tang Hongjia | music = {{Plainlist| * Lorne Balfe * Kevin Riepl}} | studio = {{Plainlist| * As One Productions * Beijing Happy Pictures}} | distributor = China Media Capital | released = {{Film date|2024|8|3}} | runtime = | country = China | language = {{Plainlist| * Mandarin * English}} | gross = {{USD|47.2 million}}<ref name=NUM>{{cite web |access-date=4 November 2024 |title=Decoded (解密) (2024) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Decoded-(2024-China)#tab=summary |website=The Numbers}}</ref> }} '''''Decoded''''' ({{zh|c=解密|link=no}}) is a 2024 Chinese period drama film directed, produced and co-written by Chen Sicheng, and starring Liu Haoran, John Cusack, Chen Daoming and Daniel Wu. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Mai Jia.<ref name="THR2024">{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=18 June 2024 |title=Shanghai: CMC Pictures to Release Chen Sicheng's Spy Thriller Tentpole 'Decoded' in U.S., U.K. (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cmc-pictures-to-release-chen-sicheng-spy-thriller-decoded-1235925459/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619013108/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cmc-pictures-to-release-chen-sicheng-spy-thriller-decoded-1235925459/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1710149604129418.html |title=电影《解密》发布"人生三幕"版预告，刘昊然领衔主演 |date=11 March 2024 |website=The Beijing News |author=徐美琳 |access-date=2024-07-14 |language=zh |archive-date=2024-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618124324/https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1710149604129418.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Plot== {{Expand section|January 2026|date=January 2026}} The film is set in the war-torn 1940s and follows autistic math genius Rong Jinzhen with a past shrouded in myth who is forced to abandon his academic pursuits to become a code-breaker for a secret spy agency.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/cht/zw/10245063.shtml |title=奇观巨制突破想象 电影《解密》定档 |date=3 July 2024 |website=China News Service |author=高凱 |access-date=2024-07-14 |language=zh |archive-date=2024-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715021654/https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/cht/zw/10245063.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Cast== * Liu Haoran as Rong Jinzhen<ref name="BeijingNewsCast">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1720595109129235.html |title=《解密》曝光角色关系，家人知己领路人成就主角容金珍传奇人生 |date=10 July 2024 |website=The Beijing News |author=周慧晓婉 |access-date=14 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715021654/https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1720595109129235.html |url-status=live }}</ref> * John Cusack as Liseiwicz, a mathematician and Rong's university tutor<ref name="BeijingNewsCast" /> * Chen Daoming as Director Cheng, the chief of Bureau 701<ref name="BeijingNewsCast" /> * Daniel Wu as Xiaolili, the chancellor of Rong's university<ref name="BeijingNewsCast" /> * Faye Yu as Ye Xiaoning, Rong's mother<ref name="BYDCast">{{Cite web |url=https://fun.youth.cn/gnzx/202407/t20240705_15360621.htm |title=电影《解密》发布角色阵容版海报 三代实力演员同台 |date=5 July 2024 |website=China Youth Net |publisher=Beijing Youth Daily |author=王目雨 |access-date=14 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014646/https://fun.youth.cn/gnzx/202407/t20240705_15360621.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> * {{ill|Martin Wang|zh|王雨甜}} as Vasily, an enforcer of Bureau 701<ref name="BYDCast" /> * Krystal Ren as Xiaomei, another member of Bureau 701<ref name="BYDCast" /> * Zhu Zhu as Mrs. Liseiwicz<ref name="BYDCast" /> * Yusi Chen as the daughter of Xiaolili<ref name="BYDCast" /> * Pan Yueming<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20240703A064XJ00 |title=刘昊然为新角色减重20斤，模样气质大变，连潘粤明都直呼认不出来 |date=3 July 2024 |website=QQ.com |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2024}}
== Production == Pre-production of ''Decoded'' began in 2018, with Chen Sicheng helming the project.<ref name="Yangcheng2024">{{Cite web |url=http://big5.news.cn/gate/big5/www.xinhuanet.com/ent/20240129/f0dcedc7ec604175bb0996f98017cf34/c.html |title=麥家小説《解密》改編電影殺青 |date=29 January 2024 |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |website=Yangcheng Evening News |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014647/http://big5.news.cn/gate/big5/www.xinhuanet.com/ent/20240129/f0dcedc7ec604175bb0996f98017cf34/c.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film is based on Mai Jia's novel of the same name, and is Chen's first project to be adapted from a literary work.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1720427078129883.html |title=电影《解密》发布缘起特辑，陈思诚分享创作初衷 |date=8 July 2024 |website=The Beijing News |author=周慧晓婉 |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014648/https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1720427078129883.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Chen noted that he had wanted to produce a film about mathematics and cryptography for a long time, and planned to set ''Decoded'' up as a film series.<ref name="Yangcheng2024" /> The project was greenlit in July 2023, with Christopher MacBride announced as the screenwriter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yzwb.net/zncontent/3183364.html |title=又一批电影备案，程耳王一博再合作《人 · 鱼》，追光推《白蛇3》 |date=29 August 2023 |website=Yangtse Evening Post |author=孔小平 |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618124325/https://www.yzwb.net/zncontent/3183364.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Liu Haoran joined the cast in September 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20230905/bkn-20230905000001899-0905_00862_001.html |title=定情戲仆直！周冬雨一沉百踩 劉昊然捲劈腿疑雲 |date=5 September 2023 |website=Oriental Daily News |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014646/https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20230905/bkn-20230905000001899-0905_00862_001.html |url-status=live }}</ref> followed by rumors of Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Tang Wei starring in October, though both of them denied those reports.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20231022/bkn-20231022000133468-1022_00862_001.html |title=梁朝偉密密操Fit備戰西片 與湯唯無緣合體拍戲 |date=22 October 2023 |website=Oriental Daily News |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014646/https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20231022/bkn-20231022000133468-1022_00862_001.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Principal photography spanned 98 days and wrapped on 25 January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706236663168355.html |title=陈思诚执导、刘昊然主演新片《解密》杀青，改编自麦家小说 |date=26 January 2024 |website=The Beijing News |author=徐美琳 |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=16 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116171117/https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706236663168355.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was presented on the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market in March.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/china-alibaba-hong-kong-content-industry-media-asia-1235854403/ |title=China's Alibaba To Invest $640M In Hong Kong Content Industry; Signs Strategic Partnership With Media Asia |date=11 March 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |last=Shackleton |first=Liz |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014646/https://deadline.com/2024/03/china-alibaba-hong-kong-content-industry-media-asia-1235854403/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://paper.hket.com/article/3725611/%E5%A4%9A%E5%A5%97%E9%87%8D%E7%A3%85%E6%B8%AF%E7%89%87%E5%BC%B7%E5%8B%A2%E5%88%97%E9%99%A3%20%E5%8F%A4%E5%A4%A9%E6%A8%82%E5%BC%B5%E5%AE%B6%E8%BC%9D%E9%84%AD%E4%BC%8A%E5%81%A5%E6%96%B0%E4%BD%9C%E6%9B%9D%E5%85%89 |title=多套重磅港片強勢列陣 古天樂張家輝鄭伊健新作曝光 |date=18 March 2024 |website=Hong Kong Economic Times |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh}}</ref>
== Release == ''Decoded'' had its premiere on 16 June 2024 on Weibo Movie Night,<ref name="BeijingNewsWeiboAwards">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1718613914168321.html |title=电影《解密》亮相2024微博电影之夜，陈思诚、刘昊然双双获奖 |date=17 June 2024 |website=The Beijing News |author=周慧晓婉 |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014647/https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1718613914168321.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.xdkb.net/p1/js/j9m79/479043.html |title=陈思诚新片《解密》剧组集结亮相，将于2024年暑期档上映 |date=17 June 2024 |website=Modern Express Post |author=张宇 |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014647/https://www.xdkb.net/p1/js/j9m79/479043.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and was theatrically released in China on 3 August.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.shine.cn/feature/entertainment/2407030729/ |title=Film adaptation of popular spy thriller joins China's summer box office lineup |date=3 July 2024 |website=Shanghai Daily |last=Zhu |first=Qing |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014647/https://www.shine.cn/feature/entertainment/2407030729/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.bjd.com.cn/2024/05/25/10784589.shtml |title=陈思诚新作《解密》暑期上映，自称具有国际合作气质 |date=25 May 2024 |website=Beijing Daily |author=李洋 |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618124338/https://news.bjd.com.cn/2024/05/25/10784589.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Reception == Carlos Aguilar of ''Variety'' considered ''Decoded'' as "China's answer" to Christopher Nolan's ''Oppenheimer'' (2023), but criticized it for offering a sanitized and overly patriotic narrative, featuring an "uncritical depiction of China's policies and war tactics", while simultaneously demonstrating an "explicit desire to entice American sensibilities" to appease an international audience.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/decoded-review-john-cusack-1236116425/ |title='Decoded' Review: John Cusack Supports Large-Scale VFX in Rah-Rah Chinese Espionage Drama |date=23 August 2024 |website=Variety |last=Aguilar |first=Carlos |access-date=20 December 2024 |archive-date=3 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103171725/https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/decoded-review-john-cusack-1236116425/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Tay Yek Keak of ''8days'' also compared the film to ''Oppenheimer'' in his 3/5 stars review, describing it as a blend of ''A Beautiful Mind'' (2001) and ''The Imitation Game'' (2014), but criticized it for being "too ambitious, over-plotted, and overlong" with convoluted plotlines that attempt to merge nationalistic themes with Western cultural references, while still appreciating the film's human moments and Liu Haoran's performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.8days.sg/seeanddo/streamit/movie-review-decoded-review-liu-haroran-john-cusak-daniel-wu-834851 |title=Decoded Review: Liu Haoran, John Cusack And Daniel Wu Play Twisty Mind Games In Chinese WWII Spy Thriller |date=29 August 2024 |website=8days |last=Tay |first=Yek Keak |access-date=20 December 2024 |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220131855/https://www.8days.sg/seeanddo/streamit/movie-review-decoded-review-liu-haroran-john-cusak-daniel-wu-834851 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Simon Abrams of ''RogerEbert.com'' gave the film 2/4 stars, describing it as a "conventional and hackneyed" spy thriller that suffers from a clichéd portrayal of a troubled mathematician and a "prevailing lack of charm and agency", rendering it "prodding" and failing to engage despite its ambitious premise.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/decoded-john-cusack-film-review-2024 |title=Decoded |date=23 August 2024 |website=RogerEbert.com |last=Abrams |first=Simon |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref> Ho Siu-bun of ''am730'' emphasized the film's failure at the box office despite high expectations, calling it "underwhelming", and critiqued its ambitious yet convoluted storytelling that attempts to emulate Christopher Nolan's style, while also highlighting the implausibility of the film's political themes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.am730.com.hk/column/%E5%A8%9B%E6%A8%82/-%E8%A7%A3%E5%AF%86-%E5%8F%88%E8%A7%A3%E5%A4%A2%E5%8F%88%E7%A0%B4%E8%A7%A3%E5%AF%86%E7%A2%BC-%E6%A8%A1%E4%BB%BF%E8%AB%BE%E8%98%AD%E9%A2%A8%E6%A0%BC-%E7%A5%A8%E6%88%BF%E6%85%98%E8%B3%A0/493296 |title=《解密》 又解夢又破解密碼 模仿諾蘭風格 票房慘賠 |date=2 October 2024 |website=am730 |last=Ho |first=Siu-bun |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref>
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Recipient(s) ! Result ! {{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="5"|2024 | rowspan="4"|Weibo Awards | Anticipated Movie of the Year | {{n/a}} | {{won}} | rowspan="4"|<ref name="BeijingNewsWeiboAwards" /> |- | rowspan="2"|Popular Filmmaker of the Year | Chen Sicheng | {{won}} |- | Liu Haoran | {{won}} |- | Technician of the Year | Ma Xiaoai | {{won}} |- | 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival - Golden Crane Awards | Best Actor | rowspan="3" | Liu Haoran |{{Won}} |<ref>{{cite web | title=第37届东京国际电影节中国电影周"金鹤奖"揭晓-新华网 | url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/photo/20241031/3feffb90528d49059793b05794e5f630/c.html }}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" | 2025 |20th Changchun Film Festival - Golden Deer Awards |Best Actor |{{Won}} |<ref>https://e.cflac.org.cn/News/202508/t20250829_1349803.html</ref> |- | rowspan="3" | 38th Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actor | {{nom}} | rowspan="3" | <ref>{{cite news |author1=Ji Zhengpeng ({{lang|zh|姬政鹏}}) |url=https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250926A042YU00 |script-title=zh:第38届中国电影金鸡奖提名名单公布，《志愿军：存亡之战》获7项提名领跑 |work=Tencent |date=2025-09-26 |access-date=2025-11-06 |language=zh |archive-date=2025-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251119004033/https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250926A042YU00 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | Best Cinematography | Cao Yu | {{nom}} |- | Best Art Direction | Han Zhong and Ma Xiaofei | {{won}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|tt31888816}}
Category:2024 films Category:Films directed by Chen Sicheng Category:Chinese thriller films Category:Chinese World War II films Category:Chinese IMAX films Category:Chinese 4DX films