Operation Red Sea, a military film directed by Dante Lam, was released on the Chinese mainland on Feb. 16, and has been hailed by Chinese netizens for showing a new form of patriotism.

The film was inspired by the evacuation of nearly 600 Chinese citizens in Yemen’s port of Aden during Yemen's civil war in 2015.

In this film, the eight-member Jiaolong Assault Team needs to rescue Chinese citizens in the fictional African country of Yewaire, which has burst out civil strife.

When the film was released on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the box office was not as large as other films. However, as the film scored well on the Chinese film review platform Douban, more people went to watch it.

By Thursday, Operation Red Sea ranked no.3 in the Chinese box office chart, earning  1.25 billion yuan.

A commercial film tough, it was supported by the Chinese navy who allowed the film to display their advanced equipment and weapons.

The film was immediately compared with Wolf Warrior 2, the incredibly successful patriotic military action film released last year.

Instead of the individual heroism seen in Wolf Warrior 2, Operation Red Sea promotes cooperation between a group of soldiers, winning the film praise and acceptance from Chinese audiences.

Xu Guangyu, a Chinese military expert and retired major general, pointed out that, although Chinese movies were filled with too many young and handsome actors, military topics were still wanted and enjoyed by the public because they are always interested in national security and national strength. The film not only shows the nation’s military strength, but also reveals the nation’s attitude to several international affairs, according to Singaporean newspaper Lianhe Zaobao.

Some Chinese netizens even advised the audience not to buy any drinks when watching the film, in case they have to go to the toilet and miss parts of the film.

Operation Red Sea quickly became popular among Chinese audiences, especially the younger generation.

“I was quite nervous and excited throughout the film. The fight scenes were so real that it constantly made my heart beat fast. I feel so proud to be Chinese, because I’m always protected my country no matter where I am in the world,” a Weibo user commented.

“After watching the film, I realized the value of peace. We are not living in a peaceful world, but I’m lucky to live in a peaceful country. I feel grateful for the protection of my country,” said another Weibo user.