Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

More than three thousand years before the present, kingdoms, immortals and monsters clash in a sweeping reimagining of a Chinese classic. Creation of the Gods I follows the rise of young Ji Fa amid the collapse of a decadent court and the interference of supernatural forces. As political intrigue and open warfare spread, mortal leaders, rogue immortals and uncanny beasts shape shifting alliances and violent confrontations. The film concentrates on the opening storms of that conflict, sketching the major players and the stakes without resolving the deeper mysteries that will carry over into later installments.

Directed by Wuershan and released in 2023, the film adapts elements of the classical novel Fengshenyanyi. Creators credited include Lu Wei, James Schamus and Zhonglin Xu, and the cast features Yu Shi as Ji Fa, Kris Phillips as King Zhou, Li Xuejian as Ji Chang, Huang Bo as Jiang Ziya, and Narana Erdyneeva as Su Daji. This is the first chapter of a planned trilogy.

Released widely across China, the picture attracted large theatrical audiences and helped build momentum for sequels. International distribution reached select markets, and while exact worldwide grosses differ by reporting source, its commercial showing was enough to justify continuing the series.

Critical and audience response has been mixed to positive, reflected in a vote average of 7.099/10 from 459 votes. Reviews often point to the film's visual spectacle and large-scale battle staging, and viewers note its effort to remain faithful to mythic material. Major themes include the corrosive effects of absolute power, the porous boundary between the divine and human realms, and how war reshapes loyalties and identities.

Because it adapts one of China's best-known mythic epics, the movie widened exposure to Fengshenyanyi for younger and international audiences. It reignited conversations about how to translate centuries-old mythology into modern special effects and blockbuster scale, and it has become a reference point for subsequent Chinese high fantasy projects trying to balance fidelity to source material with cinematic spectacle.