Chapter 49

Even more people had gone to bed early, unaware that the internet had already exploded with public opinion!

The next morning, what awaited them would be an entirely new wave of word-of-mouth bombardment!

……

"Spider-Man's opening weekend is a smash! Opening-day box office of $57.25 million sets a new record!"

"Word-of-mouth reversal! The most handsome Spider-Man in history is born! Poised to compete for the annual box office champion!"

"A thrilling 2-hour ride — the live-action comic-adapted film makes a powerful comeback! Haven't seen Spider-Man yet?"

"Spider-Man's male lead wows the crowd with stunt skills at the premiere, media reception goes through the roof!"

Early the next morning, major newspapers, media outlets, and news reports came in like snowflakes, all covering this phenomenal comic-adapted film.

The media had gone from previously questioning the Chinese-American Spider-Man and doubting the comic-adapted film trap, to now doing a complete U-turn, using every kind of florid language to praise this phenomenal, era-crossing comic-adapted blockbuster!

Against all odds, Spider-Man, through the spontaneous word-of-mouth fission from premiere audiences, actually set the 2006 opening-day record!

The $57.25 million opening-day box office successfully surpassed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest's $55.80 million, claiming the opening-day box office crown!

As for Pirates of the Caribbean 2's two-day $100 million record, it would undoubtedly be broken very soon.

With the media's all-out publicity and netizens' organic praise flooding in from every direction.

This weekend, all of North America — even the entire world — had only one theme!

Spider-Man!

Sure enough, the second day's box office hit a new high! The two-day North American box office broke $120 million! Another record shattered!

Only at this point did Howard Stringer, chairman of Sony Entertainment's North American headquarters, finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He could hardly believe it.

"We really succeeded? Marc Webb and that Asian kid — we really succeeded?"

"Yes, boss. That Asian kid Xu Can — he's truly a genius. We struck gold… The champagne is ready. Would the boss like to say a few words to everyone?"

Sony Entertainment's top executives had already organized a celebration, popping champagne to toast Spider-Man's massive box office success.

"Pop champagne? No way — find that Chinese man right now… Xu Can! Yes, find Xu Can's agent! The sequel must lock him down tight! We absolutely cannot let him slip away!"

Howard Stringer keenly realized that Xu Can, this previously unknown Asian male actor, might need to rise rapidly and become a top-tier Hollywood leading man!

The Spider-Man sequel must be put on the agenda — strike while the iron is hot, the sooner the better!

How could they not sign Xu Can for a trilogy?

He was Sony Entertainment's new God of Wealth!

To sign the contract and keep Xu Can, Stringer would even be willing to kowtow to Xu Can twice!