In 2016, as many as 2,500 films were distributed exclusively through online platforms, with 1,780 streamed by iQiyi. However, only about 1,900, including 1,321 through iQiyi, went online in 2017.

Dou disagrees with the view that 2017 marked a low point for Chinese online films, but says the decline was the signal of an important change.

"Online films now need to be high quality," he says.

"In 2015, poor quality films with eye-catching gimmicks could easily make money through the internet, but that unhealthy situation has changed.

"Now, you can only achieve high ratings if you polish your productions," he says.

"This year, the internet film industry will become similar to the cinema."

After Chosen's debut, more Chinese series will also venture to the United States.

For instance, Tientsin Mystic and Burning Ice, two popular iQiyi productions from 2017 are scheduled to be aired on Netflix in the first quarter of 2018.

And, Day and Night by Youku, another major streaming media platform in China, will soon hit Netflix.

Looking to the future, Yang Xianghua, the vice-president of iQiyi, says: "Better business models and distribution channels will help good Chinese online productions succeed abroad, gain partners and widen the horizons of the industry."

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