Another ‘space Wolf Warrior’? Soft power promotion in the Chinese new mainstream sci-fi film The Wandering Earth 2

New mainstream films, which dominate China’s contemporary film industry and serve as vehicles for official ideology, emphasise significant commercial and artistic value. Nationalism has become a commonly promoted value in new mainstream films portraying China’s overseas military operations, such as Wolf Warrior 2. In 2019, China released its first sci-fi blockbuster, The Wandering Earth, which highlights nationalism and was dubbed by Chinese social media users as ‘space wolf warrior.’ Meanwhile, the Chinese government demonstrates its ambition to shape a positive national image globally through soft power, with film playing a significant role in promoting it to audiences. Guided by Gérald Genette’s ‘narrative discourse’ model, reorganised by Fahmidul Haq and Brian Shoesmith, this qualitative study uses textual analysis to examine soft power promotion from values, culture, and foreign policy perspectives in The Wandering Earth 2. This study finds that the film not only continues to promote nationalist values but also establishes a narrative framework reflecting contemporary Chinese political will. The film imagines multilateralism within a multipolar world order and emphasises individual sacrifice, social justice, benevolent government philosophy, and perseverance. This study offers a fresh perspective on the promotion of China’s soft power in new mainstream films.