Chapter 258

Jiang Heng saw her lean in slightly, couldn't resist tapping her forehead lightly, "Your little head, you're thinking pretty nicely—Slay the Immortal just blew up, and you're already thinking about the next one?"

Jing Tian quickly rubbed her forehead, grimacing, "Ouch! If there's none, there's none, why hit me! I also like acting opposite Brother, hehe!"

Jiang Heng just smiled, noncommittal.

Da Tian Tian rolled her eyes, asking how the overseas performance of Slay the Immortal was.

Jiang Heng said: "Not bad, it's doing well in Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, etc., and also okay in Beimei."

Jing Tian saw he was saying it reluctantly, worriedly asked, "Is the box office performance in Beimei not good?"

"It should be fine, over two hundred million should be no problem!"

"Ah, that's much less than Pacific Rim 2!"

Jiang Heng nodded, Pacific Rim 2's Beimei box office was $410 million, Slay the Immortal's Beimei performance should be about half that.

But performance isn't compared like that, because the two are different genres.

The Pacific Rim series, The Matrix series, and the Oscar-winning Inception, in terms of subject matter and genre, are inherently popular with European and American audiences.

But mythological and xianxia films like these are different, they have a very strong ethnic flavor.

For example, Indian mythological movies, some special-effects scenes are also very grand, filmed very shockingly, but Neidi audiences feel nothing.

As for Jiang Heng's mythological blockbusters and xianxia blockbusters being able to achieve decent box office in European and American markets, first, because he is an international big-name director, his fame is huge.

Second, because in this day and age, visually stunning effects-heavy blockbusters are still rare, and audiences have a strong desire to consume them.

If it were in my previous life after 2020, many viewers would have grown tired of 3D movies, disliked watching so-called blockbusters, truly having gotten sick of them!

But at this time, European and American audiences watching the special-effects scenes of Slay the Immortal are also stunned.

It's just that understanding the film's underlying logic is a bit taxing.

As for the other factors leading to mediocre box office, it's that in the Beimei summer season there was a heavyweight blockbuster released a week before Slay the Immortal, namely Pirates of the Caribbean 2, which grossed $135 million in its opening weekend and $423 million in the Beimei market.

That film's global box office was $10.66 billion, worthy of being the pinnacle of the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

Slay the Immortal, released a week apart from it, will definitely be affected in box office terms, especially in European and American regions.

However, in the Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asian markets, Slay the Immortal's performance is not inferior.

Especially in the Japanese market, Slay the Immortal's box office actually surpassed Pirates of the Caribbean 2, which is surprisingly remarkable.

Analyzing the cause, it's probably still because Bi Yao blocking the sword and sacrificing herself, and Zhang Xiaofan defecting from Qing Yun, this plot suits Japanese audiences' tastes.

After all, the people of that country have always liked tragedies, and also have a tradition of "the lower overthrowing the higher".

So some Japanese viewers, after watching Slay the Immortal, discussed online, feeling the movie wasn't satisfying enough, and thought Zhang Xiaofan should have gone on a killing spree in Qing Yun Gate, etc., which is also quite bizarre.

In South Korea, as Slay the Immortal heated up, Jiang Heng and Jing Tian's fame continued to soar, becoming like national idols.

As for the various Southeast Asian countries, it's purely just to watch the excitement.

The only bizarre thing is Vietnam, where a local film company actually called Outstanding Rising Film Company, expressing interest in buying the film and television adaptation rights of Slay the Immortal to remake a Vietnamese version of Slay the Immortal.

After the news came out, Jiang Heng instantly thought of the outrageous looks of the Vietnamese versions of My Fair Princess and The Legend of Wu Meiniang, and immediately rejected it on the spot!

Taking into account the box office performance of major global film markets, the estimated global box office for Slay the Immortal is around $700 million.

Although it can't break $1 billion like Pacific Rim 2, it's still a tidy profit, at least Jiang Heng is fairly satisfied.

After a simple explanation, Da Tian Tian understood, "So you mean European and American audiences prefer Pacific Rim‑type films, right? Why don't we make another one and let me be the female lead?"

Jiang Heng raised his head, Da Tian Tian quickly covered her forehead with both hands, "Don't hit my little head, or I'll become stupid!"

"Fine, but you don't need to think about the Pacific Rim series!"

"Why?" Da Tian Tian said dejectedly.

"No reason, got it?"

"Alright, if I don't act, I don't act, I'll find someone to write a script and make an Atlantic!"

"Someone has already filmed it!"

"Then, how about the Indian Ocean!"

Jiang Heng laughed and said, "Great idea, I support you!"

"Really?"

Da Tian Tian's eyes lit up, her clear gaze tinged with foolishness.

"You're full of it, go play on the side!"

"Oh, fine, I'm ignoring you!"

Da Tian Tian said that, then hugged Jiang Heng's autographed notebook and walked away.

In the blink of an eye, it was July 28, and Stephen Chow's directed CJ7 premiered.

Slay the Immortal's screening schedule was squeezed, and its daily box office fell again.

CJ7 only garnered a first-day box office of 19 million, its Douban rating is 7.0, and its reputation can only be described as so-so.

The reason is naturally that many moviegoers felt deeply disappointed.

Just like Cheng Long and Li Lianjie obviously have good acting skills, but hardly ever play serious dramas, because audiences just want to see them "fight".

The same principle applies to Stephen Chow: audiences just want to see him be funny, but the result was a sentimental drama.

Moreover, the alien element made some viewers think it was a sci‑fi film with decent visual effects.

Only after not wanting to watch did they realize it was just an extra alien dog, with no grand alien spectacle.

Disappointed viewers flocked to Douban, Tianya Forum, etc., posting negative reviews to vent their dissatisfaction.

That is, Stephen Chow carries too much weight in the hearts of Neidi audiences, and the current film market is better than the same period in history, which makes CJ7's box office look passable.

On the set of Havoc in Heaven, in Jiang Heng's lounge, Stephen Chow sighed, "Actually, I just want to fulfill a dream!"

"I understand!"

Regarding Stephen Chow and his father's matter, Jiang Heng knows, so no explanation needed.

"Thanks!"

Zhou Xingxing paused, then suddenly said, "From now on, there will be no more actor Zhou Xingxing!"

Although he already knew all this, hearing it with his own ears, Jiang Heng was still somewhat shocked.

"Are you really going to quit, not act anymore?"

Zhou Xingxing nodded, "I won't act anymore; I'm getting on in years, my hair is so white—how could I still act? One must learn to know when to stop and leave gracefully. Otherwise, you'll make everyone lose face."

Upon hearing that, Jiang Heng couldn't help but extend his right thumb and praise, "Not bad, a clear-headed person in the world!"

Thinking again about Cheng Long, big brother, who despite his age still makes action movies and is mocked all over—really not very dignified.

This gives the audience the illusion that Cheng Long, big brother, isn't up to par.

But in fact, he truly is a superstar with countless fans worldwide.

Zhou Xingxing said, "It's not that; I just feel a person should have self-awareness. Though I won't act anymore, I can still be a director—I want to film a Journey to the West movie!"

Jiang Heng laughed, "Sure, do you need investment?"

(End of chapter)