# Creation of the Gods I

**Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms** (封神第一部：朝歌风云) is a 2023 Chinese epic fantasy film directed by Wuershan and the first installment of the planned Fengshen Trilogy (封神三部曲), adapted from the [Ming dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/ming-dynasty) mythological novel *Fengshen Yanyi* (*The Investiture of the Gods*).<sup>[1](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)</sup> It opened in mainland China on July 20, 2023, earned 2.634 billion yuan there, and won Best Feature Film at the 36th Golden Rooster Awards.<sup>[2](https://vip.stock.finance.sina.com.cn/corp/view/vCB_AllBulletinDetail.php?id=9367368&stockid=000802)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20231110-319.pdf)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writers | Wuershan; screenwriters Ran Ping, Ran Jianan, Wuershan, and Cao Sheng<sup>[5](https://www.kai-fong.com/movies/creation-of-the-gods-i)</sup> |
| Source | *Fengshen Yanyi* (*The Investiture of the Gods*), a Ming dynasty novel, with additional material from the Song–Yuan work *Wuwang Fazhou Pinghua* (King Wu Resists King Zhou)<sup>[1](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.chinadailyasia.com/upload/main/pdf/2025/02/06/fbac95942de912b5be04072ccc900e9e.pdf)</sup>  |
| Release | Mainland China July 20, 2023; US limited release September 22, 2023<sup>[2](https://vip.stock.finance.sina.com.cn/corp/view/vCB_AllBulletinDetail.php?id=9367368&stockid=000802)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)</sup>  |
| Runtime | 148 minutes<sup>[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)</sup> |
| Mainland box office | 2.634 billion yuan<sup>[3](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)</sup> |
| Trilogy investment | About 3 billion yuan total for the three films, reported as the largest production investment for a Chinese-language film<sup>[8](https://www.cnfilmrank.com/en/movies/1351)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://cjournal.hep.com.cn/1673-1646/CN/PDF/1200838541421498855)</sup>  |
| Major awards | Golden Rooster Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actor, from nine nominations<sup>[4](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20231110-319.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://static.0471tv.org.cn/wb/pc/att/202310/21/07699c94-7473-4da5-b0a1-06d6697499ef.pdf)</sup>  |
| Sequel | *Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force*, released January 29, 2025<sup>[11](https://www.gscmovies.com.my/creation-of-gods-ii-demon-force/)</sup> |

## Spoilers

### Source material and story

The film adapts *Fengshen Yanyi*, a 100-chapter Ming dynasty novel that blends historical records with mythology, set in a world where humans, celestial beings, and monsters coexist.<sup>[12](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)</sup> The Guardian attributes the novel to Xu Zhonglin and calls it a 16th-century work;<sup>[1](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)</sup> a [Le Monde](https://www.edgepedia.org/le-monde) review describes it as a 17th-century novel of uncertain authorship.<sup>[13](https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2024/07/10/creation-of-the-gods-i-une-fresque-historique-dopee-aux-effets-numeriques_6248353_3246.html)</sup> Wuershan also drew on the Song–Yuan period storytelling work *Wuwang Fazhou Pinghua* (King Wu Resists King Zhou) and on [Sima Qian](https://www.edgepedia.org/sima-qian)'s Han dynasty *Shiji* (Records of the Grand Historian).<sup>[6](https://www.chinadailyasia.com/upload/main/pdf/2025/02/06/fbac95942de912b5be04072ccc900e9e.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[12](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)</sup>

The story follows King Zhou of Shang, Yin Shou (Fei Xiang), who consorts with the fox demon Daji (Narana) and rules so brutally that he incurs the wrath of Heaven.<sup>[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1690378969169410.html)</sup>  Bringing the Fengshen Bang with him as he comes down from the mountain, the Kunlun immortal [Jiang Ziya](https://www.edgepedia.org/jiang-ziya) (Huang Bo) seeks a genuinely worthy ruler of the world who, holding this heavenly scroll, could raise both mortals and monsters to godhood, and so end the curse.<sup>[15](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-2023)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1690378969169410.html)</sup>  Ji Fa ([Yu Shi](https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-shi-actor)), son of the Count of the West, gradually sees Yin Shou's true nature and turns against Zhaoge, the Shang capital.<sup>[16](https://m.maoyan.com/moviedp/346288?_v_=yes&channelId=60008)</sup> The immortal child Ne Zha (Wu Yafan) appears among the gods who intervene.<sup>[1](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)</sup>

### Sequel and trilogy

The three films were shot together, and the two sequels entered postproduction before the first film's release.<sup>[12](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)</sup> *[Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/creation-of-the-gods-ii-demon-force)* (封神第二部：战火西岐) opened on January 29, 2025, with Jiang Ziya and Ji Fa defending the city of Xiqi against the Shang army.<sup>[11](https://www.gscmovies.com.my/creation-of-gods-ii-demon-force/)</sup> It earned 1.225 billion yuan and finished third in the 2025 Spring Festival period, and by March 2025 had released in more than 20 countries and regions outside mainland China.<sup>[25](https://static.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2025-04-19/1223147233.PDF)</sup> A third installment completes the trilogy.<sup>[12](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)</sup>

## Production

**A decade-long project.** The trilogy began its preparation in 2014, and the scripts for the three films took nearly five years to write; the trilogy was then filmed over nearly 350 consecutive days.<sup>[12](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)</sup> Wuershan visited New Zealand to consult director [Peter Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-jackson) on the experience of directing *The Lord of the Rings*, and adopted a more scientific shooting schedule as a result; James Schamus, co-writer of *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, is credited as script consultant.<sup>[12](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)</sup>  The project was announced as China's first three-films-back-to-back production, entered preparation in 2012, and was originally set for release in 2020 before being scheduled for July 2023.<sup>[17](https://static.0471tv.org.cn/wb/pc/att/202306/08/d81dae36-a58f-49be-965c-d699bc076c0b.pdf)</sup>

**Visual effects and design.** The first film contains 2,348 shots, of which more than 1,700 are visual-effects shots; the two sequels were planned with about 80 percent VFX coverage, roughly 6,000 effects shots prepared in one batch.<sup>[18](https://cinehello.com/stream/immerse/150243)</sup> The visual-effects supervisor is Douglas Hans Smith, who won an Oscar for *Independence Day* and had worked with Wuershan since *Mojin: The Lost Legend*.<sup>[18](https://cinehello.com/stream/immerse/150243)</sup> The art team based the design on Yuan and Ming dynasty Daoist water-land paintings, the [Yongle Palace murals](https://www.edgepedia.org/yongle-palace-murals), Northern Song landscape painting, and Shang and Zhou bronze motifs, using Wang Ximeng's *A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains* as a visual foundation; the Kunlun immortal-mountain sets alone took nearly four years from development to execution.<sup>[19](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/)</sup> Filming locations included Huangdao and Zangma Mountain in Shandong (standing in for the cities of Zhaoge and Xiqi) and Nyingchi in Tibet.<sup>[3](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)</sup>

## Release and box office

The film received its public screening permit and was set for July 20, 2023, with large-scale preview screenings on July 15 and 16.<sup>[2](https://vip.stock.finance.sina.com.cn/corp/view/vCB_AllBulletinDetail.php?id=9367368&stockid=000802)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[20](https://xn--fiqs8sr9gzmd215a.net/UploadFiles/file/20230719/202307190307467409.pdf)</sup>  In its first seven days it earned 618 million yuan (about $86 million), holding off *[Barbie](https://www.edgepedia.org/barbie-film)* at the Chinese box office.<sup>[21](https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1013405)</sup> It closed its run with 2.634 billion yuan.<sup>[3](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)</sup> Well Go USA released it in limited North American theaters on September 22, 2023, where it grossed $1.7 million.<sup>[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)</sup> It later opened in France in July 2024, where French media described it as a box-office phenomenon.<sup>[19](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/)</sup>

## Reception and awards

Audience response in China was strongly positive: the film holds a 7.7 rating on Douban from more than 1.26 million users, and Maoyan ticketing users rated it 9.4.<sup>[22](https://movie.douban.com/subject/10604086/?dt_dapp=1)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[23](https://www.mvcat.com/movie/15372.html)</sup>  On Rotten Tomatoes it scored 60 percent from 10 critics on the Tomatometer and 97 percent from audiences on the Popcornmeter.<sup>[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)</sup> Critics divided over pacing and effects: the Guardian praised its idiosyncrasies while faulting "highly variable CGI,"<sup>[1](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)</sup> ScreenHK found the nearly two-and-a-half-hour film reliant on expository scenarios and hastily introduced plot threads,<sup>[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)</sup> and the [South China Morning Post](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-china-morning-post) called it a visually stunning, action-packed romp.<sup>[24](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3235808/creation-gods-i-kingdom-storms-movie-review-chinese-fantasy-based-classic-book-visually-stunning)</sup>

At the 36th Golden Rooster Awards in November 2023, the film received nine nominations and won Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography (Wang Yu), and Best Supporting Actor (Li Xuejian, for his portrayal of the kindhearted tribal lord Ji Chang).<sup>[4](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20231110-319.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)</sup>  Li Xuejian won Best Supporting Actor again at the 37th Hundred Flowers Awards in 2024, the film was named Most Popular Film at the 31st Beijing Student Film Festival, and it received the Outstanding Feature Film award at the 20th Huabiao Awards in 2025.<sup>[3](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)</sup>

## References

1. [Ryan Gilbey, "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms review – immortals and armies wreak havoc," The Guardian, September 19, 2023](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/19/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-review-immortals-and-armies-wreak-havoc)
2. [Beijing Culture announcement on the film's box office and release date, Sina Finance](https://vip.stock.finance.sina.com.cn/corp/view/vCB_AllBulletinDetail.php?id=9367368&stockid=000802)
3. [封神第一部：朝歌风云 详细资料, 1905电影网](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/info/)
4. [China Daily Global Edition, November 10, 2023 (Golden Rooster Awards report), FARA filing](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20231110-319.pdf)
5. [Kai-Fong, "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms review"](https://www.kai-fong.com/movies/creation-of-the-gods-i)
6. [China Daily Asia, February 6, 2025 (Wuershan interview), FARA filing](https://www.chinadailyasia.com/upload/main/pdf/2025/02/06/fbac95942de912b5be04072ccc900e9e.pdf)
7. [Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creation_of_the_gods_i_kingdom_of_storms)
8. [Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, CNFilmRank](https://www.cnfilmrank.com/en/movies/1351)
9. [《封神第二部：战火西岐》：国产神话史诗电影的创作反思与得失](https://cjournal.hep.com.cn/1673-1646/CN/PDF/1200838541421498855)
10. [呼和浩特广播电视台 PDF, November 2023 (Golden Rooster nominations report)](https://static.0471tv.org.cn/wb/pc/att/202310/21/07699c94-7473-4da5-b0a1-06d6697499ef.pdf)
11. [Creation of Gods II: Demon Force, GSC Movies](https://www.gscmovies.com.my/creation-of-gods-ii-demon-force/)
12. [Xu Fan, "Dream retold for the silver screen," China Daily Global Edition, July 27, 2023, FARA filing](https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Informational-Materials-20230728-234.pdf)
13. [« Creation of the Gods I » : une fresque historique dopée aux effets numériques, Le Monde, July 10, 2024](https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2024/07/10/creation-of-the-gods-i-une-fresque-historique-dopee-aux-effets-numeriques_6248353_3246.html)
14. [新京报小记者对话《封神第一部》音乐监制](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1690378969169410.html)
15. [Simon Abrams, "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms movie review," RogerEbert.com, September 22, 2023](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/creation-of-the-gods-i-kingdom-of-storms-2023)
16. [封神第一部, Maoyan](https://m.maoyan.com/moviedp/346288?_v_=yes&channelId=60008)
17. [呼和浩特广播电视台 PDF, June 2023 (trilogy development timeline)](https://static.0471tv.org.cn/wb/pc/att/202306/08/d81dae36-a58f-49be-965c-d699bc076c0b.pdf)
18. [《封神第一部：朝歌风云》视效总监专访, 影视工业网, September 25, 2023](https://cinehello.com/stream/immerse/150243)
19. [封神第一部：朝歌风云, 1905电影网](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/2234183/)
20. [中国电影报 PDF, July 19, 2023 (preview screenings)](https://xn--fiqs8sr9gzmd215a.net/UploadFiles/file/20230719/202307190307467409.pdf)
21. [Wu Haiyun, "What Makes a Myth?," Sixth Tone, July 27, 2023](https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1013405)
22. [封神第一部：朝歌风云, Douban](https://movie.douban.com/subject/10604086/?dt_dapp=1)
23. [封神第一部：朝歌风云, Mvcat](https://www.mvcat.com/movie/15372.html)
24. [South China Morning Post review of Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3235808/creation-gods-i-kingdom-storms-movie-review-chinese-fantasy-based-classic-book-visually-stunning)
25. [Beijing Culture annual filing PDF, April 2025 (Creation of the Gods II box office and overseas release)](https://static.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2025-04-19/1223147233.PDF)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works) › Science fiction and fantasy films of the 2020s › Fantasy films of the 2020s*

*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license