Chapter 278: Market Performance

The people around didn't know the script content, after all it was just a game advertisement; who cares about this!

They thought it was pre-designed, and felt this part was shot quite well.

But Tang Yan noticed a clue from Jiang Heng's startled expression.

"When did she become so bold?"

Tang Yan pondered secretly, a hint of regret flashing in her heart.

She had met Jiang Heng when filming 'Rescuing Mother by Splitting the Mountain' a few years earlier, and they had once eaten together and set off fireworks during New Year; if she had had such courage back then, she might have become Mrs. Jiang.

It's a pity that her courage was too small back then, so the chance was missed.

Later, when acting opposite Jiang Heng, Tang Yan still performed according to the script's requirements and dared not improvise.

Overall the shooting went smoothly, and by a little past three in the afternoon everything was finished.

"Everyone has worked hard; I'll treat you to a good dinner tonight!"

Everyone agreed in unison, but Da Tian Tian wanted to run away.

She had previously been bewitched and daringly 'ambushed' Jiang Heng, so she didn't dare stay any longer.

Jiang Heng, however, said: "You're not allowed to run; get in my car later, I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Da Tian Tian didn't dare to run and honestly got into Jiang Heng's car.

"How have you been feeling lately?" Jiang Heng asked with a smile.

Jing Tian was taken aback; she thought Jiang Heng would ask about the kiss scene, but instead he only asked how she felt after becoming famous!

She couldn't tell which was more important!

Da Tian Tian felt a bit frantic.

But she didn't know that Jiang Heng actually had a somewhat mischievous taste, after all in his previous life Da Tian Tian never became popular no matter how she was promoted.

But now, thanks to the roles of Bi Yao and the Scorpion Spirit, she has firmly established herself, and he genuinely wants to know Jing Tian's thoughts.

"Mm, feeling pretty good, really thanks to you; if it weren't for big brother letting me play the Scorpion Spirit and Bi Yao, patiently teaching me the lines and directing, I might not have experienced this feeling for many years."

Jing Tian lowered her head slightly and suddenly said: "So, you really shouldn't overthink it; I had no other thoughts just now, just a moment of gratitude that I couldn't help."

"Oh!"

Jiang Heng replied lightly, for a moment not knowing what to say.

Da Tian Tian waited a while, seeing no response from Jiang Heng, and couldn't help but say: "Just 'oh'?"

Jiang Heng thought, what else could he say, he couldn't very well say 'very moist'!

"I understand, and I didn't overthink it either!"

Upon hearing this, Da Tian Tian felt helpless and subconsciously pouted, instantly drawing Jiang Heng's gaze.

Jing Tian gave a startled laugh, feeling a bit pleased, and thought to herself: "Hmph, men, indeed just as my sister said!"

However, she didn't dare to keep playing with fire, but instead asked about the recent situation of 'Daughter Country'.

"Pretty good, not just ordinary good, but the situation is entirely promising!"

"How to put it? It's just too hot!"

"The film has only been released for half a month, yet the cumulative box office in the mainland market has already exceeded five hundred million."

"Judging from the current box office trend, there might be a chance to break nine hundred million!"

"Nine hundred million, in 2007!"

"It will not only refresh the box office record of the Chinese-language film market, but also renew Jiang Heng's personal film box office record in the mainland market."

"The most special thing is that this film isn't Jiang Heng's best work; it's just a comedy with special effects, plus a touch of romance."

"Even saying that, among romance films it isn't the best, yet it somehow became the hottest—where's the logic?"

"But the audience insists on this, and instead feels that earlier films like 'Lion's Ridge,' 'Pacific Rim,' 'Inception,' etc., lacked romance and comedy elements. If you had added those two earlier, wouldn't the box office have been higher?"

"Even more miraculously, the film 'Daughter Country' also has excellent word-of-mouth."

"Douban rates it 8.1, which counts as a good work."

"As for overseas, in the Japanese film market the movie immediately won the weekly box office champion upon release and continued to lead."

"In South Korea, 'Daughter Country's' box office performance also dominated the summer, with total admissions already exceeding five million; it's estimated that when the film leaves theaters, surpassing seven million will be no problem."

"And in each Southeast Asian country, 'Daughter Country' is the local box office champion."

"As for these countries, because their market size is too small, it's hard to cultivate a high-quality film industry."

"Originally it was the backyard of Hong Kong cinema, later taken over by Hollywood blockbusters."

"But this time, Chinese-language cinema also has a effects-heavy blockbuster, and it's a familiar classic to them; audiences naturally feel more immersed in Jiang Heng's films, so the box office results are quite good."

"The performance is slightly weaker in the European and American markets; first, the comedy aspect relies heavily on dialogue."

"But after redubbing, the comedic elements have practically disappeared."

"The so-called romantic regret moves some European and American audiences, while others feel relatively indifferent."

"Fortunately, the special-effects fight scenes they're used to remain as spectacular as ever."

"Therefore, 'Daughter Country's' box office performance in the North American market is relatively low; based on the current trend, reaching two hundred million US dollars would be not bad."

"In the remaining European and American countries, the box office results are similarly low; compared to the peak performance of 'Pacific Rim 2,' they've dropped by about half."

"This is due to cultural barriers, and there's nothing to be done about it."

"Nevertheless, even so, the global box office of 'Daughter Country' is expected to reach seven hundred million US dollars, roughly on par with 'Immortal Sword,' and still able to earn Jiang Heng a substantial profit."

"While making domestic investors envious, it also frightened Hua Yi's Wang Zhonglei and others into a cold sweat."

"Fortunately, when 'Fengshen Bang' was scheduled for release, they didn't get overexcited, and the gap between its release and that of 'Daughter Country' was a long half month."

"If it were only a week apart, or released on the same day, wouldn't they have been slaughtered?"

"However, regarding the film 'Fengshen Bang,' Wang Zhonglei and others initially had high hopes for it."

"But as 'Daughter Country' became a hot hit, they turned somewhat insecure."

But sometimes I also fantasize, "Daughter Country" could achieve such high box office, "Fengshen Bang" is not bad either!

Wang Zhonglei lately has been constantly switching between extreme confidence and extreme lack of confidence, feeling that if the film isn't released soon, he'll collapse.

Fortunately, after a long wait, it finally arrived.

July 27, the Huayi version of "Fengshen Bang" landed in major theaters across Neidi.

Major cinemas domestically also welcomed a new wave of movie-watching enthusiasm.

After all, although "Fengshen" is not among the Four Great Classics, its fame has always been modest.

Moreover, since Jiang Heng hasn't touched the "Fengshen" theme after "Saving Mother by Splitting the Mountain", fans of this genre have been somewhat impatiently waiting.

Anyway, Huayi's film is also a big-effects blockbuster, so why not come take a look?

Inside a cinema at Five Pine Trees in Jingcheng, the auditorium screening "Fengshen Bang" was packed with people, attendance reaching ninety percent.

One could say that aside from the front-row seats with poor viewing experience, all the rest were sold.

The audience were also eagerly anticipating, watching the film with great expectation.

This Huayi version tells the story of people from the West Qi faction going to Morning Song to rescue Zhou Wenwang.

Those participating in the action include Jiang Ziya, Ne Zha, Yang Jian, and Lei Zhenzi, while the Yin-Shang side's deployed generals include the Mo Family Four Generals, Zhang Guifang, etc.

The special effects are decent, not looking particularly cheap, and the fight scenes are passable.

It's just that the costumes, makeup, and props are overly extravagant, making viewers feel very uncomfortable.

Moreover, some plot adaptations feel stiff, leaving many viewers unsure how to evaluate them for a while.

(End of chapter)