Youth Collection
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 18 May 2023. It is the first installment in Wang Bing's Youth trilogy, followed by Youth (Hard Times) and Youth (Homecoming) in 2024.
Franchise Evolution & Timeline Analysis
The Youth Collection has evolved significantly over a span of 2 years, growing from a singular narrative into a complex cinematic universe. With 3 interconnected entries, tracking the consistency of the franchise reveals fascinating trends in audience sentiment.
The "Series" Benchmark: 7.7/10
The franchise maintains a steady average rating of 7.7. While most series experience "Sequel Fatigue," Youth Collection has managed to keep its narrative quality relatively stable, with Youth (Hard Times) standing out as the peak cinematic achievement.
Continuity vs. Commercial Appeal
Our data indicates that while the "Release Order" is preferred for first-time viewers, the "Chronological Order" provides a much deeper understanding of the world-building within the Youth Collection. The timeline highlights a consistent narrative drive across all chapters.
Timeline & Watch Order
We recommend watching the Youth Collection franchise in the following order to fully experience the narrative expansion.
Youth (Spring)
This film was shot between 2014 and 2019 in the town of Zhili, a district of Huzhou City in Zhejiang province, China. Zhili is home to over 18,000 privately-run...
Youth (Hard Times)
In this enveloping second part of the Youth trilogy, shot between 2015 and 2019, Wang Bing deepens his vérité portrait of a generation struggling to survive on ...
Youth (Homecoming)
Wang Bing concludes his monumental Youth trilogy in expansive fashion, giving ever wider scope to the lives of migrant workers in Zhili’s textile factories as t...
Common Questions about Youth Collection
How many movies are in the Youth Collection?
There are currently 3 movies in the Youth Collection, starting from Youth (Spring) to the latest release, Youth (Homecoming).
What is the best order to watch the Youth Collection?
The best way to watch the Youth Collection is usually in release order: starting with Youth (Spring) and ending with Youth (Homecoming). Check our timeline for the full chronological breakdown.
Which is the highest-rated movie in the Youth Collection?
According to movieMx ratings, the fans have a strong preference for Youth (Hard Times) in this franchise.