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The Dating Game

Play trailer Poster for The Dating Game 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 19 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Set in China, where eligible men outnumber women by over 30 million, The Dating Game is the story of Zhou, Li, and Wu, three bachelors embarking on a seven-day dating camp, led by Hao, one of China's most sought-after dating coaches. In their last-ditch effort to find love, the bachelors chuckle and bond as Hao makes them over, altering how they look and act online--and in real life. It's all part of Hao's signature "strategic deception," a series of techniques designed to, purportedly, make humans connect. Hao's credentials? Hao successfully wooed Wen, a stylish, educated city-girl--a real catch who is now his wife. As our three bachelors stumble through the camp's awkward challenges, they try to make sense of their authentic and constructed selves, and find the self-confidence they need to land that date.

Cast & Crew

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Violet Du Feng

Director

Joanna Natasegara

Producer

James Costa

Producer

Mette Cheng Munthe Kaas

Producer

Violet Du Feng

Producer

Rebecca Lichtenfeld

Executive Producer

Critics Reviews

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Monica Castillo RogerEbert.com The film balances the reality of these experiences with compassion, a sense of humor, and quiet observation, giving the subjects a chance to reflect on their own behaviors and memories. Jan 31, 2025 Full Review Bilge Ebiri New York Magazine/Vulture In an openly phony world, who cares about being genuine? The Dating Game captures that idea in deceptively chilling fashion. Jan 27, 2025 Full Review Jacob Oller AV Club Violet Du Feng’s frustratingly surface-level look at China's online dating scene finds itself lost among the different facets of its broad topic. Rated: C- Jan 27, 2025 Full Review Marissa Hill Shade Studios While the film offers valuable insights into the gender imbalance and social pressures that shape the dating experiences of lower-class men, it falls short in providing a thorough examination of Hao’s methods and their long-term effectiveness. Jul 30, 2025 Full Review Megan McLachlan The Contending The Dating Game is a timely and important study of a specific group of Chinese men in a universal language. Du Feng skillfully tells their story with hilarity and heart, and by the end of the film, you’re rooting for them all to find love. Apr 7, 2025 Full Review Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net It’s nothing too profound or weighty just a light frothy dating documentary. Mar 7, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Dating Game

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Movie Info

Synopsis Set in China, where eligible men outnumber women by over 30 million, The Dating Game is the story of Zhou, Li, and Wu, three bachelors embarking on a seven-day dating camp, led by Hao, one of China's most sought-after dating coaches. In their last-ditch effort to find love, the bachelors chuckle and bond as Hao makes them over, altering how they look and act online--and in real life. It's all part of Hao's signature "strategic deception," a series of techniques designed to, purportedly, make humans connect. Hao's credentials? Hao successfully wooed Wen, a stylish, educated city-girl--a real catch who is now his wife. As our three bachelors stumble through the camp's awkward challenges, they try to make sense of their authentic and constructed selves, and find the self-confidence they need to land that date.
Director
Violet Du Feng
Producer
Joanna Natasegara, James Costa, Mette Cheng Munthe Kaas, Violet Du Feng
Distributor
Fish + Bear Pictures
Production Co
Fish + Bear Pictures, Violet Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 30m