Public ratings On
Douban, a popular Chinese media rating platform, "Her Story" initially garnered a high rating of 9.1. However, over time, this score has slightly decreased to 8.9. Users on this platform have expressed disappointment, particularly those expecting high-octane effects and thrilling plotlines typical of blockbuster films. The criticism extends to accusations of gender conflict and claims that the director deliberately objectified male characters, suggesting a stark contrast in audience expectations and reception.
Critical response Weixing Huang from
China Youth Daily stated that "
Her Story carries a somewhat complex array of themes. It’s not a perfect film, but that doesn’t take away from its strength as an outstanding realist work that confronts women’s experiences and addresses issues such as gender relations and parenting. With a warm and unguarded tone, it speaks directly to the heart. As Wang Tiemei says in a press release at the end of the film: “It is precisely because we are optimistic and confident enough that we can face tragedy head-on.” Compared to other films in the same genre,
Her Story adopts a more lighthearted and humorous narrative approach. It speaks frankly about uncomfortable realities, using a gentle portrayal of everyday life to deliver healing power and resonant meaning". Internationally, on
IMDB,
Her Story holds a rating of 7.7 out of 10, indicating a generally favorable reception from a global audience. This score suggests that the film's artistic exploration and thematic depth have resonated well beyond its initial cultural context. Belle Wong from
Singapore Film Society argued that "At its core,
Her Story is a feminist film that presents female hardship with light-hearted optimism, making it more accessible in environments like China, where such themes are less openly discussed. By using comedy, the film is able to resonate with a wider audience, sparking meaningful discussions among both men and women of all ages. While films like
Like a Rolling Stone (2024) explore female awakening,
Her Story takes it a step further, offering a much-needed narrative on how women can navigate and challenge the world after their rebirth. With humour, depth, and heart,
Her Story contends that the time has come to rewrite the rules of the game and embrace a new era of female empowerment." The Chinese publication
The Sixth Tone and British newspaper
The Guardian called the film as China's answer to the 2023 Hollywood blockbuster
Barbie. In an interview, Yang Xiaolin, director of the Film Research Institute at
Tongji University, highlighted the film's popularity as stemming from its keen observation of everyday life, marking it as a fresh take on realist cinema. He noted that the film captures the essence of the present without exaggeration, focusing on the experiences of ordinary individuals, particularly the young and middle-aged "new
Shanghainese". However, Yang also criticized the film for its intentional sidelining of male characters, arguing that it portrays a gendered narrative where women are depicted as victims of harm or discrimination in a male-dominated society, often intensifying the gender conflict by glorifying one side while vilifying the other. Fang Xiaoya of
China Daily wrote that the film "created a narrative that speaks to women's experiences with honesty and warmth, inviting the audience to imagine a world where women can be the architects of their own futures."
Digital engagement According to
Maoyan Professional Edition,
Her Story has dramatically outperformed contemporaneous films such as
Gladiator 2 and
Casanova in terms of digital engagement metrics. According to the latest data, the film leads in cumulative audience reach,
TikTok discussion views,
Weibo reads and
Xiaohongshu post engagements. By 2 December,
Her Story had reached an astonishing 4.132 billion people, almost 20 times more than the other four films combined. On TikTok, topics related to the film have garnered over 1.56 billion views, far outpacing its peers. On Weibo, not only has it garnered more views, but it also tops the list of trending search topics. with over 13 million posts tagged "Her Story Easter egg". These posts highlight the feminist references in the film, such as characters dressing up as famous feminist figures like
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and
Frida Kahlo, and using quotes from influential feminists like Chizuko Ueno and
Gloria Steinem. This creative approach has inspired a passionate fan base to re-watch the film to catch all the nuanced details.
Box office ==Accolades==