Liu Haoran (劉昊然)

Liu Haoran is the rare Chinese actor who embodies the “golden boy” ideal — discovered at 16 by director Chen Sicheng, debuting in a hit film, and then entering the prestigious Central Academy of Drama as the top-ranked student nationwide in both professional and cultural exams. By 22, he had already surpassed 10 billion yuan in cumulative box office, becoming China’s youngest “100‑billion actor”; by 28, he became the first post‑90s actor to cross the 25 billion yuan mark. Yet what truly sets him apart is his enduring “universal appeal” — a rare, non‑threatening likability that crosses generations. He’s the actor your parents find “sharp and likable,” your peers find “talented and not greasy,” and your younger siblings find “like that handsome senior in school”. With his signature youthful charm, a reputation for intelligence, and a filmography that includes the Detective Chinatown franchise, With You, and Nirvana in Fire 2, Liu has become one of the most bankable and beloved young actors of his generation.

Breakthrough Role Liu’s journey began in 2014 when he was handpicked by Chen Sicheng to star in the film Beijing Love Story, playing the innocent middle‑school student Song Ge. His natural, heartfelt performance earned him a Best New Actor nomination at the Beijing College Student Film Festival. But it was his 2015 role as Qin Feng in the hit mystery-comedy Detective Chinatown that truly launched him into stardom. As a stuttering, genius teenage detective with an IQ of 145 and a photographic memory, Liu brought a perfect blend of awkward charm and razor‑sharp intelligence to the screen. The role earned him the Huading Award for Best New Actor and established him as a rising star. He went on to reprise the character in three sequels — Detective Chinatown 2 (2018), which earned him a Hundred Flowers Award nomination for Best Actor; Detective Chinatown 3 (2021), which broke China’s all‑time pre‑sales record; and Detective Chinatown 1900 (2025), which pushed his cumulative box office past 20 billion yuan. Beyond the franchise, Liu expanded his range with the beloved youth drama With You (2016), where his portrayal of the sunny, athletic Yu Huai became iconic, and the period drama Nirvana in Fire 2 (2017), in which he played the spirited young general Xiao Pingjing — a role many consider his finest acting showcase.

Public Perception Liu Haoran’s standing in the Chinese entertainment industry is a fascinating paradox. He is widely respected for his professional discipline, genuine humility, and refusal to play the “traffic star” game — choosing instead to focus on serious film work and maintain a low‑key public presence. He belongs to the celebrated “Four Great Walls” (Si Da Qiang Tou) — a group of young actors with near‑universal goodwill. Yet this very goodwill has proven fragile. After a series of art‑house films that deliberately subverted his clean‑cut image, audiences began to question his direction; some critics argue he rushed his transition away from the “youthful” label. A high‑profile romance rumor further complicated his public image. As one observer put it: Liu’s story is a reminder that the seemingly effortless public affection an actor enjoys is “being re‑evaluated every minute”. But his resilience is equally notable. When he returned to the Detective Chinatown franchise in a familiar, polished look, the public swiftly embraced him again — as if the tension had never existed. Today, with over 25 billion yuan in box office, a string of major projects including the 2026 film Miss Rubik alongside Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, and a reputation as a steady, non‑alienating screen presence, Liu Haoran remains one of the most fascinating figures in Chinese cinema: an actor whose talent is undisputed, whose potential is immense, and whose relationship with the public is as complex as it is enduring.