By: Richard Ren / Critic

On the eve of the nationwide theatrical release of the animated film All Wishes Come True on August 14, 2026, distributor CMC Pictures hosted a grand Los Angeles premiere on the evening of August 13 at AMC Century City. As a North American premiere, the event was produced at a remarkably high Hollywood level. Cardboard cutouts of the Eight Immortals, a “Wishes Granted” ceremonial arch, and a red carpet transformed nearly 200 meters of corridors and stairways at AMC Century City into a fantastical world inspired by the film. The immersive setting gave audiences the feeling of stepping directly from the real world into the world of All Wishes Come True, while also demonstrating the distributor’s commitment to the film’s North American release.

But the biggest surprise was the film itself.

Throughout the screening, laughter repeatedly filled the theater. For an animated film rooted in traditional Chinese mythology, that audience response is particularly noteworthy. Rather than portraying the Eight Immortals as lofty, distant, and untouchable mythical figures, All Wishes Come True boldly incorporates elements of contemporary life, internet slang, and a wide variety of pop-culture “memes” into its dialogue and storytelling.

That, in my view, is one of the film’s greatest strengths.

On the surface, All Wishes Come True is a hilarious adventure about eight ordinary people who disguise themselves as immortals and embark on a group quest. But beneath the comedy, the film ultimately centers on ordinary people, the choices they make, and the process of growing together.

The eight characters come together for completely different reasons. Some are motivated by money, some want to prove themselves, while others become involved almost by accident. None of them is perfect. They each have flaws, vulnerabilities, and personal agendas. That makes them feel less like the idealized figures of traditional mythology and more like ordinary people we might encounter in real life.

Most importantly, the film does not rely on lengthy explanations to introduce its mythology. Instead, the natural, highly conversational exchanges among the eight characters carry much of the storytelling. Contemporary references, internet slang, and familiar online “memes” are woven into their conversations. These elements are not simply there to generate laughs; they also help establish the personalities and relationships of the characters.

In this way, the film effectively pulls ancient mythical figures into the modern world.

They argue, tease one another, undermine each other, and sometimes pursue their own interests. Yet when it matters most, they choose to help one another. Audiences may laugh at the dialogue and situations, but beneath the humor are very recognizable emotions and very real human choices.

For international audiences unfamiliar with the traditional story of the Eight Immortals, this approach is particularly effective.

The film does not require viewers to have prior knowledge of Chinese mythology. The characters, relationships, adventure, and central conflicts are presented clearly enough that audiences can quickly find their way into the story. Even viewers with little knowledge of the Eight Immortals can enjoy the film without feeling excluded.

In that sense, All Wishes Come True has found an effective way to communicate Chinese mythology across cultures: rather than reducing its Chinese cultural identity, it uses humor, friendship, and personal growth as universal entry points.

This is especially meaningful for Chinese mythology as it reaches international audiences.

If the characters and dialogue bring the audience closer to the mythology, the film’s visual design restores the sense of wonder that defines the mythical world.

Inspired by traditional Chinese qinglü shanshui — blue-and-green landscape painting — All Wishes Come True creates a new vision of Penglai, the legendary island paradise of immortals, suspended above a sea of clouds. Floating pavilions and towers, an expansive supernatural realm, and colors influenced by traditional Chinese folk art and painting give the film a visual identity that is both ethereal and grounded in the warmth of everyday Chinese life.

On the big screen, the clouds, magical powers, and action sequences deliver particularly strong visual impact. Traditional Eastern aesthetics are not merely presented as static “Chinese-style” imagery. Instead, they are transformed into a dynamic animated world filled with movement, adventure, and dramatic conflict.

This creates one of the film’s most interesting contrasts: the characters are remarkably down-to-earth, while the world around them is unmistakably mythical.

On one side are internet slang, contemporary jokes, and the constant banter among eight ordinary people. On the other are Penglai, floating palaces, seas of clouds, magical powers, and a distinctly Eastern sense of fantasy. Rather than weakening each other, these two styles come together to give the film its distinctive personality.

From this perspective, All Wishes Come True is not simply an old myth retold through animation. It is also an imaginative attempt to answer a more contemporary question:

What would the Eight Immortals be like if they lived in our world today?

The film’s answer is not eight flawless gods, but eight ordinary people with weaknesses, desires, comic moments, and the capacity to grow.

Perhaps that is precisely why, when they eventually embark on their journey as the “Eight Immortals,” audiences see more than traditional mythological figures. They see the courage of ordinary people when confronted with difficult choices, as well as the strength that comes from supporting one another and moving forward together.

For North American audiences, this may ultimately be the film’s greatest strength. Rather than placing Chinese mythology on a pedestal and asking audiences simply to admire it, All Wishes Come True first makes them laugh — and then invites them into the mythology.

That may be one of the most effective ways for a Chinese mythology-based animated film to cross cultural boundaries and give audiences from different backgrounds a common entry point into the story.