‘Evil Unbound’ on Japan’s Unit 731 Tops Global Box Office

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Zhao Linshan’s historical drama Evil Unbound, based on Japan’s notorious Unit 731 and its germ warfare experiments in China, premieres worldwide. The film has already grossed over $170 million, dominating the China and global box office while sparking international dialogue on buried wartime history.

By TRH Entertainment Desk

MUMBAI, September 23, 2025 — Chinese historical drama Evil Unbound, directed by Zhao Linshan, is making global headlines for its chilling depiction of atrocities committed by Japan’s infamous Unit 731 during World War II.

The film, which premiered in Harbin — the former base of Unit 731 — and released in China on September 18, has quickly become a box office phenomenon, grossing $170.4 million in just four days, and ranking No. 1 worldwide, according to Comscore.

Produced by Changying Film Group, Evil Unbound dramatizes the brutal human experiments conducted by Unit 731, including frostbite tests, gas exposure, and germ warfare inflicted on Chinese civilians during Japan’s invasion (1931–1945). Starring Jiang Wu, Wang Zhiwen, and Li Naiwen, the film does not shy away from exposing the cruelty, with Zhao stating in an interview that showing “cruel scenes of human experimentation” was essential “to uncover the truth and tear open the wound of history.”

The premiere drew audiences of multiple nationalities, including screenings in Beijing, North America, and Europe, reflecting international interest in a chapter of history often buried outside Asia. Chinese state media, including People’s Daily, CGTN, and CCTV+, highlighted the film’s cultural and historical significance, emphasizing its role in documenting wartime crimes and fostering global remembrance.

Critics have noted the film’s dual impact — as both a cinematic success and a historical reckoning, forcing global audiences to confront Unit 731’s legacy of inhumanity.

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