Da Peng(I)

Da Peng, originally named Dong Chengpeng, is a Chinese film director, actor, screenwriter, and executive producer. He gained widespread recognition with his directorial debut, Jian Bing Man (2015), which was a major commercial success in China, grossing 1.16 billion RMB ($160 million) at the box office. In 2023, his movie Johnny Keep Walking! (2023) grossed 1.29 billion RMB ($179 million) in China, setting a new box office record for a film starring him. As a director, Da Peng's films have achieved a cumulative box office gross of 3.95 billion RMB ($589 million). As an actor, the films he has starred in (including voice-acting roles) have grossed a total of 13.2 billion RMB ($1.96 billion), contributing to a combined total of 25.6 billion RMB ($3.8 billion) across all films in which he has participated. Da Peng's work in cinema has earned critical acclaim alongside commercial success. He has received a total of 19 nominations and awards across six different film festivals, spans both directing and acting categories. In 2018, his short film A Final Reunion won Best Live Action Short Film at the 55th Golden Horse Awards. In 2023, he received the Golden Goblet Award for Best Actor at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival for his outstanding performance in Dust to Dust. In 2026, his film The Lychee Road earned him Best Director at the 38th Hundred Flowers Awards. Da Peng's directorial filmography includes Jian Bing Man (2015), City of Rock (2017), A Final Reunion (2018), The Reunions (2021), Post Truth (2023), One and Only (2023), and The Lychee Road (2025). His style has evolved from early commercial comedies to a broader artistic vision, incorporating art-house elements, documentaries, and realistic themes. Throughout his acting career, Da Peng has transitioned from starring in his own directorial projects to collaborating with prominent Chinese filmmakers, including Feng Xiaogang in I Am Not Madame Bovary (2016), Yuen Woo-ping in The Thousand Faces of Dunjia (2017), Tsui Hark in Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017), Shen Ao in My Dear Liar (2019), Cheng Er in Hidden Blade (2023), and Dong Runnian in Johnny Keep Walking! (2023). Through these roles, he has successfully evolved from a comedic actor into a versatile, mature performer. His work as an executive producer has drawn equal acclaim in recent years. The 2024 TV series To the Wonder, which he executive produced, won Best Chinese Television Series at the 30th Shanghai Television Festival's Magnolia Awards. The comedy film Honey Money Phony, released the same year, was well received and subsequently spawned a sequel. In 2026, the art-house feature Light Pillar, which he produced and starred in, was selected for the Forum/Perspectives section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival and the Centerpiece section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.