Chapter 210: Pre-sale Unrivaled Top Streamer’s Strength Shatters Box Office Records
Movie publicity and distribution and TV series publicity and distribution seem the same, but they are actually completely different things.
TV series publicity and distribution emphasizes online data and rarely involves offline activities, focusing more on fans’ long-term chasing of updates and companionship.
Movie publicity and distribution requires concentrated consumption in a short period, relying on box office conversion rate.
Its target audience is broader, emphasizing universal movie viewing, seeking real money spent by consumers who actually pay up, focusing on short, flat, and fast—this is also why the film circle looks down on everything, standing aloof, with countless traffic stars unable to cross the threshold no matter how hard they try.
Simply put, relying solely on fans cannot support a movie’s performance.
《Big Shot》’s set publicity and distribution strategy, like other movies, is “outbreak-style publicity and distribution”.
That is, starting about 1 month before release, peaking 1-2 weeks before release, such as pre-sales, large-scale sneak previews, star roadshows, etc., with post-release reputation deciding the long tail… for example, 《Wolf Warrior 2》’s reputation exploded, crazily reversing downward, creating a box office miracle.
On June 10th, 《Big Shot》’s official account released 《Big Shot》’s ultimate trailer, with 5 days left until sales begin; the publicity and distribution strategy is steady and solid, with popularity and fan emotions looking very good.
That day, coincidentally or not, 《Magic City Fortress》 also released a “special effects special edition trailer”, edited entirely with their “sci-fi city” built with massive investment relying on local government support.
As soon as the trailer came out, hot searches were dominated, Douyin was flooded, and 《Magic City Fortress》’s popularity instantly overshadowed everything.
—This is the biggest difference between movies and TV series: movies never look at traffic stars; even someone as strong as Chi Ye now cannot withstand the opponent’s casual strike in the face of the publicity slogan “China’s first epic sci-fi film”.
Because this is not a contest of fan popularity, but the support from Chinese movie fans and bystanders.
Domestic audiences have long awaited Chinese sci-fi films, and 《Magic City Fortress》 is their “hope”.
That evening, Director Chen of 《Big Shot》 learned of this news and angrily cursed: “Street trash! Too bullying! With such a huge investment in a sci-fi film, their publicity is targeting us to intercept the outbreak!”
Yes, outsiders and bystanders may not be sensitive to this incident, but any insider can see that 《Magic City Fortress》 is blatantly intercepting 《Big Shot》’s publicity and distribution popularity.
Relying on its even more terrifying attention and topicness, as soon as 《Big Shot》 starts publicity, they “strike” over—this is a blatant overt scheme targeted at them, impossible to dodge.
So, that evening, Chi Ye’s fans clashed with Yu Yan’s fans.
These two sides have long-held grudges; since Chi Ye failed to ascend to unrivaled top streamer, Yu Yan’s side has always looked down on this bandwagoner, until Chi Ye surpassed Yu Yan, crushing him across fields and leaving him without face, at which point their role positions reversed.
But no matter the reversal, these two are the two young actors in internal entertainment circle who fight the fiercest and whose main idols are the hottest.
Moreover, this time Yu Yan’s side has absolute “confidence” and “strength” to go head-to-head with Chi Ye’s side.
—What movie are we acting in? What are you acting in?
A second lead villain still wants to peng ci China’s sci-fi mentor?
Both sides fought to the death, inseparable, until the pre-sale day for 《Big Shot》 and 《Magic City Fortress》, with the smoke of gunpowder not yet dispersed.
Turning even more intense.
Because both movies’ pre-sale dates are on the 15th, but 《Big Shot》 releases on the 20th, only pre-selling 5 days ahead, while 《Magic City Fortress》 releases on the 30th, pre-selling half a month ahead.
And pre-sale, as the name implies, is advance sales of box office （ counted in the official release’s first day box office）; this stage actually has nothing to do with movie quality—everyone is “purchasing in advance” without seeing the movie content, so box office high or low purely depends on the lead actor’s fans and popularity… it’s a method the film circle deliberately pushed after the traffic era arrived to “grab money”.
Using traffic lead actors is exactly for this purpose.
That night, after midnight, both movies’ pre-sale channels opened, and 《Big Shot》 and 《Magic City Fortress》’s data instantly surged ahead.
In just half an hour, 《Big Shot》’s first day pre-sale box office broke through 10 million first, leading 《Magic City Fortress》 by 2 million, and simultaneously breaking the Chinese movie history record for fastest pre-sale to break 10 million box office.
The previous record holder was 《Detective Chinatown 3》.
Then, both sides chased closely; Chi Ye’s personal terrifying traffic crushing Yu Yan was embodied most vividly in this pre-sale.
One hour 30 million, 5 hours 50 million…
By the end of the pre-sale day’s overall market close, 《Big Shot》’s first day box office pre-sale was impressively as high as 90 million, just short of breaking 100 million.
《Magic City Fortress》 only had 70 million, firmly suppressed in second place by 《Big Shot》.
At the same time, 《Big Shot》’s first day pre-sale performance successfully broke N Chinese movie history records in a row.
For example, “fastest pre-sale in Chinese film history to break 10 million”, “20 million”, “50 million”, “90 million”…
The only pity is that later on, Chi Ye’s fans really couldn’t push further, stuck at the 100 million breaking point; otherwise, 《Big Shot》’s publicity effect would have been even better.
Of course, even so, such outrageous performance—after 《Xing Ni》, Professor Chi’s first wave of “traffic impact” on the film circle—still left countless people inside and outside the circle dumbfounded.
This isn’t what we thought!
Even in pre-sale, 《Big Shot》 shouldn’t surpass 《Magic City Fortress》, right?
Yu Yan is “former unrivaled”, is the current traffic gap between them this big?
The Beijing Circle was jealous with eyes turning red.
“Fuck, this Chi Ye really doesn’t hold back when harvesting fans, not inferior to us at all—pre-sale first day 90 million… all bought by fans… not kidding, does their movie’s total investment even reach 90 million? Already breaking even? Everything after is pure profit?!”
《794 Bureau》 film crew.
Director Lu watched with itching heart, noticing Peng Chen fawning over the female lead, rubbing his hands and sighing: “Fuck, if only Chi Ye had come to act in 《749 Bureau》…”
Mine, this 90 million is all mine!
“Unrivaled top streamer, pre-sale tests the lead actor’s traffic, but this thing maxes out here—90 million, fans probably sold their underpants to support him… like this, after a few rounds of harvesting, no one will let him harvest anymore…”
The friend beside comforted: “If he really acted in our movie, not necessarily earning more than Peng Chen.”
Director Lu didn’t reply, but his heart still bled—should have been my money! So many “records”, if 《749 Bureau》 broke them… he could brag for a decade.
This Chi Ye, pains me to death!
……
Some ancient idol drama film crew.
“Pre-sale broke 90 million? This much?!”
Sister Qianzi just finished a scene and “accidentally” learned this from Chi Ye’s fan assistant; seeing no outsiders around, she didn’t hide her surprise: “Relying solely on fans, first day pre-sale sold nearly 100 million box office?”
“…I bought three tickets.”
The assistant blinked.
Shi Jinwei: “?”
“Why three tickets?”
The assistant said hesitantly: “One for you, one for Professor Chi, one for me…”
Shi Jinwei: “…You sure thought this through thoroughly.”
“Sister Shi, I’m all thinking for you.”
“Thinking what for me?”
Shi Jinwei displeased: “I have nothing to do with him… he… at most just covets me.”
The assistant’s eyes widened: “Ah? Covets? Sister Shi… tell me more about the coveting.”
Shi Jinwei paused, then waved happily and smugly: “Go go go, don’t pry into what you shouldn’t!”
The assistant still puzzled.
Covets? Exactly how does he covet?
Seeing Sister Shi like this, why does she seem quite happy?
……
Abroad, some beach.
Lazy sunlight sprinkled on fine soft white sand, sea breeze gently blowing, carrying salty seawater scent.
Sister Shang wore a blue bikini, brazenly exposing her sinful little belly, sunglasses casually perched on her nose tip, lying on the beach like she was dead, no breathing, no movement.
After a long while, she flopped over lazily, put down her mobile phone, muttering: “This 《Big Shot》 trailer isn’t good, no romance line…”
“Movies without CP have no fun.”
She shook her head in evaluation, flipped over again, lifted her fair tender arm: “Renew one for me… lemonade, thanks.”
As she spoke, she suddenly paused, looking at the rising and falling sea and the empty private beach.
She suddenly felt “sadness welling up”, inexplicably sentimental: “Turns out watching the sea alone really makes one sad…”
“Just like my emotions, never cared about by anyone.”
Not far away.
“Sorry, this is a private beach, already rented by someone, please move elsewhere.”
Team members guarded strictly, telling other female staff: “Sister Shang said she’s stripped naked inside, can’t let others see her like that.”
……
《Great Shanghai》 is a spy war film starring Sheng Ning and some middle-aged actor.
Investment moderate, a medium-scale commercial film.
Sheng Ning is second lead; this is a movie she shot last year, also her only movie inventory so far, her only hope to break the Beijing Circle’s “soft ban” on her.
But due to genre and cast lineup, Sheng Ning didn’t dare hold too high expectations, just maintaining the necessary professional attitude.
This day, after finishing roadshow, she returned to the lounge and learned of 《Big Shot》’s pre-sale box office performance.
《Great Shanghai》 just opened pre-sale in the past two days, performance… decent, 30 million, basically all bought by her fans.
But…
Compared to 《Big Shot》’s 90 million in one day, it seems a bit low.
And.
“He’s going to be targeted again.”
Sheng Ning said lightly, just glancing at hot searches to predict Chi Ye’s upcoming “encounter”.
“Targeted again?”
Her assistant puzzled: “Uh… why?”
Sheng Ning said flatly: “A low-investment film with 90 million first day pre-sale, opening day box office probably breaking 200 million… breaks even in one day, all profit after—you think Beijing Circle will accept that?”
“Moreover, 《Magic City Fortress》’s slogan is so grand… 《Big Shot》 surpassing 《Magic City Fortress》, those Chinese movie fans won’t accept it either.”
Sheng Ning sneered: “Traffic is one thing for acting in dramas, but acting in movies is original sin to begin with; surpassing a ‘sci-fi blockbuster’ is adding sin to sin.”
The assistant understood, but also surprised at Sister Ning’s focus.
Yes, 《Big Shot》’s first day pre-sale broke N records, stealing the spotlight—Beijing Circle envious, Sister Qianzi surprised, Sister Shang focused on plot…
Only Sheng Ning instantly thought of the career issues Chi Ye would face.
Her focus different from everyone else’s… but same as Chi Ye’s.
“—Continue ramping up paid commenters to curse us.”
After learning the news, Chi Ye instructed Keke.
But before they could act, Weibo hot search entries appeared like #Chi Ye Pre-sale# #《Big Shot》 Pre-sale Surpasses 《Magic City Fortress》# #Where Does the Future of Chinese Movies Go?#—entries that didn’t look friendly.
Beijing Circle, even Yue Na, started buying black hot searches, but this kind of black hot search was different from ordinary ones.
Because ordinary black hot searches only affect fan circles; bystanders don’t chase stars usually, with very limited reach.
Moreover, Chi Ye’s public favor has been good since the Golden Melody Awards.
But this time different.
This black hot search was “high-value” and “sophisticated”; they didn’t even buy much, just started it, then bystanders who wanted to stand up for the “Chinese sci-fi blockbuster” joined in naturally.
「《Big Shot》 pre-sale surpassing 《Magic City Fortress》 was unexpected; surpassing is one thing, but dragging it down too?」
「《Magic City Fortress》 is the vanguard of China’s industrialized films; no need for traffic movies to clash head-on.」
「I like 《Xing Ni》 too, but pre-sale dragging down isn’t good… audiences want films with real content.」
「A bit turned black on Chi Ye; 《Xing Ni》 finished not long ago and now a movie, leek-harvesting intent too obvious.」
「Weird, pre-sale compares whose fans are more, buy more, right? You Yu Yan couldn’t beat it, now moral kidnapping? Have some shame.」
「Also weird about current public opinion shift, too fast; 《Big Shot》 pre-sale isn’t real money spent? They like this type of movie, bought tickets, surpassing 《Magic City Fortress》 a crime now?」
「Surpassing no problem, but what’s with hot search dragging? Also, 《Magic City Fortress》 isn’t Yu Yan’s work; Yu Yan may not match Chi Ye, but 《Magic City Fortress》 is pioneering Chinese sci-fi film, representative of our country’s industrialized film maturity—can’t compare, right.」
「Movies need acting skills; Chi Ye acting villain, what values is that? Not worth a hair of 《Fortress》.」
「…」
The topic escalated; Chi Ye was once blacked multiple times on 《Singer》 for “bandwagoning high-value topics”, but rivals had no way to counter.
Same this time, but roles reversed—Chi Ye’s “enemies” suddenly realized: no wonder Chi Ye uses high-value, because this value… it really works!
Impossible to refute; standing on moral high ground, refuting means you don’t support the future of Chinese sci-fi films, you’re guilty.
Chi Ye’s fans “retreated” under bystanders’ siege; three days later, 《Magic City Fortress》’s first day pre-sale box office broke 200 million, directly surpassing 《Big Shot》’s 100 million pre-sale box office.
—This is bystanders “standing up for it” and supporting 《Magic City Fortress》 en masse.
Moreover, this support intensity continues and rises with 《Magic City Fortress》 film producer’s new publicity investments.
Thus, time reached June 20th.
This day, 《Big Shot》 officially released.
