China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has officially endorsed the new Chinese counter‑espionage thriller “Scare Out,” making it the first film to receive backing from the agency. The movie, directed by Oscar‑nominated Zhang Yimou and starring Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong, opened on Feb. 17, Chinese New Year’s Day, in Shenzhen and has already raked in 1.1 billion yuan (about $160 million) in its first two weeks, drawing crowds in China as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia.
MSS said in a statement that the film is designed to “strengthen the people’s defense line” and to “echo the needs of the times of national‑security education.” The agency has been posting daily on China’s largest social‑media platform, WeChat, about real‑world espionage cases for roughly two years, and the movie’s production was reportedly overseen by state‑security officers who were present throughout filming to ensure realism, according to an op‑ed Zhang wrote for the People’s Daily.
Security scholars see the move as a sophisticated effort to turn national‑security themes into popular entertainment and to enlist ordinary citizens in reporting suspicious activity. “It wants to build public and popular support to encourage people to share information,” said Sheena Greitens, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin.
The film’s plot—centered on a mole leaking details of a new fighter jet—has sparked speculation that it mirrors a real case involving a researcher accused of leaking information about China’s J‑35 fighter. While rumors have swirled on social media, the MSS declined to comment when approached for verification.
Western analysts note that the CIA, which has historically collaborated with Hollywood, is also actively reaching out to Chinese officials through Mandarin‑language recruitment videos posted on social media. “Do you have information about China’s top leaders? Are you a military officer, or do you work with the military?” one such video asks. In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned it would “take all necessary measures to avoid any infiltration.”
The unprecedented MSS involvement in a commercial film reflects a broader shift by Chinese security officials to make their work visible and to mobilize public vigilance. As Liam McLoughlin, a senior lecturer in politics at Edge Hill University, observed, the movie not only entertains but also “highlights to people internally that they don’t side with the West,” contrasting with many Western spy thrillers that frame the threat outward.
Audience reactions have been mixed but generally positive. Alice Jin, a 28‑year‑old e‑commerce worker in Washington, said the movie was “better than I expected,” while Wang Lehang, a 25‑year‑old student, called it “better than a lecture” on patriotism.
“Scare Out” thus represents a new chapter in China’s public‑security outreach, blending cinematic spectacle with an explicit call for citizen participation in national‑security education.