Taiwanese prison drama “Sunshine Women’s Choir” has become the highest-grossing local film in Taiwan‘s box-office history, surpassing NT$545 million ($17.3 million) on Feb. 14 and dethroning the previous record-holder “Cape No. 7” (2008).
The drama follows a baby girl born inside a women’s prison, welcomed by four inmates each carrying painful pasts. When a rebellious newcomer arrives, initial clashes evolve into friendship. After the infant is diagnosed with an eye disease, the inmates form a prison choir to create a lasting memory for the child. Drawing from real-life stories and Kang Dae-kyu’s Korean film “Harmony” (2010), the film blends humor, music and themes of redemption.
The Mandarin-language feature, directed by Gavin Lin, released on Dec. 31, 2025. The film claimed the number one position at Taiwan’s daily box office on January 12, overtaking “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” achieved consistent daily grosses exceeding NT$10 million ($318,000) since Jan. 16.
66cc Company Limited handles local distribution in Taiwan and international sales for the production. The film has already opened in Singapore and Malaysia alongside its Taiwan release. In Hong Kong, preview screenings began Jan. 17, with a theatrical rollout scheduled for March 5. Additional territories including Cambodia, North America, Australia and New Zealand are planned for March releases, while Vietnam is tentatively scheduled for April.
The ensemble cast features veteran actor Judy Ongg, alongside Chen Yi-Han, Sun Shu-May, Amber An and Chung Hsin-Ling. Director Lin previously gained international recognition with “More Than Blue” (2018), a box-office success that earned a Golden Horse Award nomination in 2019. His other credits include “Welcome to the Happy Days” (2015) and “A Trip with Your Wife” (2021).