Abstract:

 The emergence of the "blockbuster" or "big film" and the birth of these two concepts can be traced back to the History of Hollywood in the mid70s of the 20th century or even earlier. After the Paramount Case was decided, the environment of film production changed a lot. Facing this situation as well as the universal coverage of the TV, Hollywood produced such films as "BenHur", "The Sound of Music" and "Cleopatra" in 1950s and 1960s, which were strategic products to compete, thus establishing a blockbuster pattern that is characteristic of wide screen, stereo, high investment, grand scene and superstars. Up to the mid70s, with the increasing importance of marketing and digital technology in the film industry, a film called the "high concept" by Justin Wyatt appeared. Since that, a commercial operation mode of the "big investment, big production, big marketing and big market" was determined, and was carried forward in such films of the "high concept" as "Jaws", "Star Wars" and "Jurassic Park". In China, the production of blockbusters is also vital for the system of the Chinese film industry. After a period of four phases, that is, the initiation in 1950s and 1960s, the allround development in 1990s, the international operation in the new century and the new development of mainstream culture, the production of China' s blockbusters has been steadily increasing and achieved excellent results. But, compared with Hollywood' s blockbusters of the "high concept", the insufficiency of the "big marketing" and the lack of high technique are two important factors constraining the development of China' s blockbusters. In the future, it is necessary for China' s blockbusters to attach importance to the establishment of core values, the diversified, multitype construction, and the application and development of digital hightech. 

Key words: film blockbuster; "high concept"; core values; human commonality