Better Days (2019) Review: Oscar-Nominated School Bullying Drama

Is Better Days worth watching?

Yes — Better Days is essential viewing with award-grade craft and scores that hold up on rewatch. Better Days holds 88% Critic Score, 85% Audience Score, Metascore 80, IMDb 7.6, 3.9 on Letterboxd. It carries Golden Rooster Awards Best Actress won 2020; Academy Awards Best International Feature Film nominated 2021. Stream on Netflix.

What is Better Days about?

A bullied high-school girl forms a protective bond with a street-smart teenage fighter as campus violence spirals toward tragedy. Derek Tsang’s adaptation became China’s Oscar International Feature nominee and a Golden Rooster sweep. Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Yin Fang, Wu Di anchor the ensemble with performances that define China’s theatrical exports this decade.

How do Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee anchor Better Days?

Derek Tsang’s direction treats runtime as emotional architecture rather than plot delivery alone. Devastating and tender — Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee anchor a school-bullying drama that earned global awards attention while navigating censorship with surprising emotional honesty. Dr. Amara Okonkwo’s read: Better Days rewards viewers who engage with China’s awards ecosystem and streaming habits rather than expecting Western prestige formulas.

Should you watch Better Days with regional peers?

Build a regional list — China exports hit differently when watched beside jury winners and peer streaming hits. Pair with Dying To Survive 2018, The Battle At Lake Changjin 2021, The Wandering Earth 2 2023 on Best of Asia 2016–2026. All connect through Golden Rooster Awards recognition and China’s streaming decade — start with whichever genre temperature you prefer, then cross-link on the decade hub.

Why did Golden Rooster Awards recognize Better Days?

Jury recognition validated craft audiences already debated online. Golden Rooster Awards Best Actress won 2020; Academy Awards Best International Feature Film nominated 2021. Compare winners on the Golden Rooster Awards hub against Best of Asia 2016–2026 scores. Browse Golden Rooster Awards alongside Best of Asia 2016–2026 to compare jury choices across China and neighboring markets.

Where does Better Days rank in the decade?

Top tier for China this decade — scores and awards align. On Best of Asia 2016–2026 it anchors China beside Dying To Survive 2018, The Battle At Lake Changjin 2021, The Wandering Earth 2 2023. Derek Tsang’s film belongs on any serious China shortlist beside dying to survive 2018 and neighboring market winners.

Where can I watch Better Days?

Netflix carries Better Days in most regions — verify badges on the title page for 2026 availability. 135 minutes — plan viewing when you can absorb China dialogue rhythms and awards context without rushing. IMDb tt10772508 indexes runtime and credits for planners who prefer structured viewing over binge chaos.

Verdict

Better Days is essential — a China film that belongs on curated decade lists. Browse China, Golden Rooster Awards, and Best of Asia 2016–2026.

How does Better Days fit Celluloid’s Asia map?

Celluloid maps these titles on Best of Asia 2016–2026 so viewers can compare scores, streaming, and regional peers without algorithm guesswork. Start with China, then cross-link to Golden Rooster Awards and peer titles listed above. Better Days represents how China cinema travels in the streaming decade — curated lists beat thumbnail roulette when you are building a serious regional watchlist.

What scores should you trust?

Rating recap: check the film page for Critic Score, Audience Score, Metascore where available, IMDb, and streaming badges updated for 2026. Those numbers anchor this review and make cross-country comparison on the Asia decade hub concrete. Better Days splits critics and audiences in ways typical for China exports — weigh Critic Score for craft, Audience Score for cultural penetration, and Golden Rooster Awards recognition for industry validation.