The romantic film "Secret Age" is currently the second highest viewed Chinese film on the platform in 2026.
According to Yunhe, "The Secret Age" is still leading the ranking of Chinese online movies by day with more than 60 million views, accounting for more than 31% of the market share, overwhelming other works.
The film's popularity on the platform exceeded 28,000 points, direct ratings on Dongfang TV exceeded 1%, continuously topped 9 major charts for 11 days, and the main topic on Douyin also reached 3.79 billion views.
These numbers are proof of the film's remarkable achievements. However, the scores of "The Secret Age" assessed by audiences on Douban are not as expected.
Secret Age" received an average rating of 5.4/10 with mixed reviews. A part of the audience said they "watched the movie to the point of addiction, unable to break free". Other audiences ridiculed the work for its unrealistic office environment and ridiculous details.
According to Sohu, the contrast between views and scores is due to differences in pace and film logic.
As soon as it aired, "Secret Age" successfully attracted audiences thanks to its fast pace, similar to the "formula" of popular short films.
Viewers almost "cannot breathe" with a series of climaxes: In just the first 15 minutes of episode 1, the female lead Hua Mat Ngu (Chu Chau) discovers her husband cheating; by the end of episode 3, she has become a waitress in a hotel because she was deceived by her ex-husband.
This deployment method completely copies the short filmmaking style: each episode has an average of 1-2 conflicting events, emotions have not yet subsided when dramatic details reappear.
The film is especially suitable for short video platforms, each episode can be cut into a few 10-20 second climaxes such as catching adultery red-handed, confronting lovers, rescuing the referee, or the victorious counter-attack of the female lead...
What the mass market audience needs is such a thoughtless but emotional movie viewing experience.
On the other hand, Chung Han Luong's cold-blooded president image hit the emotional needs of adult female audiences. The transformation of the betrayed wife played by Chu Chau is also loved by the general audience.
Conversely, the audience who evaluate films on Douban are those who scrutinize more carefully, so they realize many loopholes in the film. Hua Mat Ngu is said to have an irrational "female lead aura", from a sanitation worker who rose rapidly to manager.
Not only that, the male lead corrects the hotel to eliminate friendships, but in the end all the female lead's "friendships" are all dragged into the hotel: her mother, best friend, old friend all become providers.
According to Sohu, the score of 5.4 on Douban and the wave of criticism reminded that: a work built on the logic of a short film, after the audience's emotions cool down, it is very difficult to leave a long-lasting impression.
When this fever passes, another "effective patchwork" movie with more drama, faster pace will appear, and the current viewership record may quickly be replaced.
