Chapter 284: Family, Career, Director Lu Always Getting Screwed
《Influenza》’s “Whale Swallowing” has traceable signs.
On the morning of the third day of the New Year, many well-informed media outlets and UP masters overseas had already learned the box office details and popularity of 《Influenza》 in the overseas market.
So, while many people were still immersed in sleeping in, this group of people had already taken the lead in launching the “charge”.
【《Influenza》 overseas box office two-day summary: average daily box office 300 million RMB.》】
【《Influenza》, the first commercial blockbuster in mainland movie history to break through internationally.》】
【《Influenza》 grand occasion: queuing for movie viewing in California.》】
【《Influenza》 dominates scheduling in Taiwan and Hong Kong regions, movie viewing becomes a trend.》】
【《Influenza》 overseas box office enters historical top thirty, pre-sales still rising.》】
【……】
Regarding 《Influenza》, regarding box office, when news came from overseas that 《Influenza》 averaged about 300 million in daily box office from release to today, domestic movie fans were dumbfounded, and many rival big stars in the industry were terrified.
Just like the reaction of the few big brothers who learned the news first—you, a mainland commercial movie, how could you possibly achieve a box office explosion overseas?
This isn’t the river, not the river at all.
In mainland movie history, there have been movies that ranked on the global box office list, such as 《The Battle at Lake Changjin》 and the previous 《Monster Hunt》, which were reported to be on the global box office rankings and such.
But notably, in these rankings, all mainland movies’ box office stats come 99.99% from mainland box office boost.
In other words, if you exclude mainland box office, mainland commercial movies’ overseas box office performance really can’t be scrutinized, because almost all flop per capita—what’s the point of reporting that? To let others mock and slap their own face?
But this time 《Influenza》 is different; it actually formed a scene almost “opposite” to other movies: mainland release for two days + pre-sales, 860 million box office, overseas also 560 million…
This might still be partly due to 《Influenza》’s “water and soil incompatibility”.
This… how can a mainland movie be so awesome?!
At this rate, no one dares to guarantee whether 《Influenza》 will achieve even more dazzling results overseas.
But from what everyone sees now, in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Korea regions, 《Influenza》 has crushed concurrent local movies, achieving the “grand occasion” once only seen when Hollywood blockbusters were released domestically.
—Who can withstand this?
“Must buy two tickets to show support for 《Influenza》; this movie is so damn uplifting!”
Xiangnan.
Liu Xiaoxiao’s boyfriend and Liu Xiaoxiao had already watched the movie at the premiere of 《Influenza》; Liu Xiaoxiao, as Chi Ye’s die-hard fan, always wanted to rewatch, but her boyfriend thought with that money, better to watch other Spring Festival slot blockbusters.
But after seeing all kinds of hot searches this morning and the “inspiring” news, the boyfriend was a bit overwhelmed.
After breakfast, he unusually dragged his girlfriend straight to a cinema with excellent viewing effects.
“Really gonna rewatch?”
Liu Xiaoxiao was still a bit dazed.
“Of course, not just rewatch; this movie is worth watching repeatedly. I’m even planning third and fourth watches.”
Liu Xiaoxiao’s boyfriend said bluntly: “We must let people know that movies like 《Influenza》 need to be made more; we can’t lose face for our local movies.”
Liu Xiaoxiao: “……Isn’t that a bit much? I actually think rewatch once to simply support Ye Zi is enough; no need to watch so many times…”
“Come on, come on, watch first and talk later.”
The boyfriend and Liu Xiaoxiao entered the movie theater, and suddenly familiar dialogue came to their ears.
“Hey, didn’t you say yesterday that watching once is enough? Why come again?”
“This time is different; mainland movies are exploding overseas this time—we can’t let our morale drop! Plus, this film has lots of details; it’s really worth rewatching.”
“……Really done with you guys; I want to watch some fun movies.”
“This movie has Chi Ye.”
“Has Chi Ye, then… that said…”
“…”
Liu Xiaoxiao and her boyfriend exchanged a glance, instantly realizing that today, those coming to watch with this mindset probably aren’t just them.
If it were just isolated cases, it’d be fine, but if similar scenes are happening in cinemas nationwide right now, then…
Liu Xiaoxiao’s boyfriend vaguely sensed in his heart that a storm belonging to 《Influenza》 had arrived.
……
《Influenza》’s whale swallowing signs on the third day of release weren’t too obvious; that day’s box office was 50 million more than the second day premiere, returning to the 440 million threshold.
But on the fourth day, 《Influenza》, which had been hovering between third and fourth in this year’s Spring Festival slot, suddenly surged like it had taken medicine, surpassing the Shen Ma Combination’s 《Iron Fist》 that had steadily harvested second place box office, with daily box office reaching the terrifying 500 million+.
On the fifth day, box office dipped slightly but still held second, firmly suppressing 《Iron Fist》 and 《Flying Speed》 below.
By then, 《Detective Chinatown 3》’s reputation finally “thunderclapped” on a large scale this year; various roasts about 《Detective Chinatown 3》 sprang up like mushrooms after rain—about Chen Sicheng shooting commercial films to scam for money, consuming nostalgia, and the Detective Chinatown series lifespan—topping hot searches.
Thus, on the sixth day, 《Detective Chinatown 3》’s box office plummeted across the board; 《Influenza》 perhaps benefited from 《Detective Chinatown 3》’s backlash dividend that day, with box office breaking 500 million again, claiming the Spring Festival slot single-day box office championship for the first time.
Mainland cumulative total box office reached 2.3 billion+, only behind 《Detective Chinatown 3》’s 2.5 billion.
If including overseas global box office, 《Influenza》 has achieved “disparity leading”.
—Internal Entertainment Circle’s “sky” has collapsed.
“How much today?”
“4.5.”
“Rising 400-500 million daily—what is this 《Influenza》 doing?!”
“《Detective Chinatown 3》 dropped too fast; today it was surpassed by 《Iron Fist》 and 《Flying Speed》.”
“After this, Chi Ye is going to be unstoppable, unstoppable.”
“How much did he earn from this movie?”
“Don’t know, but definitely earned big.”
“…”
Internal Entertainment Circle’s “sky” is the film circle; film circle’s “sky” is the various big and small circles, like the very representative Beijing Circle and Northwest Circle.
On the sixth day of the Spring Festival slot, seeing 《Influenza》 still steadily holding first in box office data, and the long string of cumulative box office numbers, plus 《Influenza》 official Weibo’s posters announcing “cumulative box office breaks several billion”.
Beijing Circle’s sky collapsed.
It’s said that Director Lu, seeing this report at home that day, cried out on the spot, muttering things like: “Opportunistic, unfair, if you have the guts, fight fair and square…” incomprehensible words.
His wife, Wife of Director Lu, felt it was bad luck—a grown man crying all day, what a disgrace?
After several failed persuasions, Wife of Director Lu angrily went out to watch a movie with the little sisters, and finally, under everyone’s strong suggestion, couldn’t hold back and entered 《Influenza》’s movie theater.
That night, while doing it with Director Lu at home, Wife of Director Lu closed her eyes and suddenly said: “Can you wear a suit?”
Director Lu was dumbfounded: “Why a suit?”
“No reason.”
“I’m already like this, and you still demand this and that?”
“Then you always perform like this, and I can’t make any requests?”
“……Wait a sec.”
Director Lu had to stop midway, grumpily looking for his suit, but Wife of Director Lu wasn’t satisfied no matter which he changed into.
Finally, Director Lu couldn’t hold it, loudly asking: “Which suit do you exactly want me to wear?!”
“It’s like…” Wife of Director Lu thought and euphemistically said: “Do you have dark ones? Similar to the one Zhang Lin wore.”
Director Lu: “?!”
Beating me with iron fists in career, and now making my family call your name in family life?!
Ahh! I’m fighting you!
The next day, word spread in the industry that Director Lu was divorcing his wife, cause unknown, reason unknown.
……
Career, family.
This isn’t just Director Lu’s dilemma these days; it’s also Chi Ye’s problems.
He and Empress Dowager returned home on the third day of the New Year; after coming back, since Old Master’s health was far worse than the past two years, they only briefly met once, without much talk.
He stayed in the guest room at Empress Dowager’s house; these days, quite a few friends and relatives came to see him out of curiosity… mainly many young girls and children, curious about what this top streamer boyfriend their aunt/older sister/younger sister found looked like in real life.
Um… the “inspection” effect was very satisfactory.
Chi Ye’s face, in face-to-face interaction, clearly gave them an impact beyond what the screen usually provides.
That blatant appearance bullying made them momentarily dazed, wondering if directors and variety shows had drawn Chi Ye uglier; compared to reality, it felt like Chi Ye had always been letting others do his makeup.
At the same time, they seemed able to understand why the drama queen, arrogant from childhood, afraid of nothing and uncontrollable by anyone, would like a man from “mudslegs” background.
This…
Indeed understandable.
Putting themselves in her shoes, they would probably try to get in touch too.
“But love and marriage are different.”
In the bedroom.
Jin Mu Ms. Zeng sat on her daughter’s bed, holding her hand, seemingly heart-to-heart but actually confirming and probing: “You’ve been smart since childhood; you should know this.”
“Love is between two people; Mommy doesn’t oppose who you date—as long as you like it, date however you want.”
“In life, you’ll meet all kinds of people; experiencing more is no harm to you.”
“But marriage is different.”
Ms. Zeng said: “Marriage is between two families; our two families will jointly form a small family for you—this involves many things, especially for families like ours… Do you get Mommy’s meaning?”
Across from her, Empress Dowager’s eyelids were fighting sleepiness, nodding: “Got it, I get it, Mommy you want me to invite Teacher Chi’s guardians over; you think highly of us, you fully support your precious daughter!”
Ms. Zeng: “?”
Is that what I meant?
How come I didn’t know?
She gave her little padded jacket a sideways glance, feeling as always she liked to play dumb, coughed twice, then said: “Not like that, Xia Xia.”
“Mommy wants you to think clearly, hope you can figure this out; you never brought anyone home before, so I said nothing, but this time you suddenly brought someone… honestly, your dad and I had no mental preparation.”
“And now?”
Ms. Zeng was stunned: “Huh?”
Jin Xia blinked her peach blossom eyes, cheekily asking: “Mommy, now are you prepared? It’s been several days.”
Ms. Zeng: “……Probably.”
“Prepared is good, prepared is good.”
Ms. Zeng stared at her silently for two seconds, also nodding: “As long as you know what you’re doing…”
“Of course I know; Teacher Chi said my biggest strength is having… numbers in my heart.”
Empress Dowager nearly slipped her tongue with some “dirty talk” in front of her mom, quickly braked, sat up and pushed her mother: “We’ll visit Grandfather at the nursing home in a few days; you have so much to do, go get busy first, no need to worry about us; we’ll take good care of ourselves.”
“…”
Ms. Zeng looked at this daughter who seemed innocent but was actually playing dumb everywhere, silent for three seconds before nodding: “Okay, I’ll go then, but you… have fun with Xiao Chi; after all, it’s his first time at our house.”
“Okay Mommy, don’t worry, he’s super happy.”
“……Where’d you pick up that accent?”
“Can’t a Shanghai sister speak Northeast dialect?”
Ms. Zeng was speechless: “Just asking casually.”
“Hurry, hurry up.”
“……Sigh.”
Ms. Zeng sighed helplessly, ending this “heart-to-heart” with her daughter.
She walked out of the villa, to outside the courtyard, looked at the street with big red lanterns, thought, took out her mobile phone and sent a WeChat to Jin Fu.
But Jin Fu seemed busy, no immediate reply.
“This family, really.”
Ms. Zeng shook her head, and her secretary arrived, heading to her unit.
……
Meanwhile.
Capital City.
Jin Fu sat at the conference round table; everyone was now discussing something.
“《Influenza》’s current overseas box office trend is very good, and mainland has formed a virtuous cycle; my suggestion is to make it a typical for promotion…”
“But its theme… seems not quite suitable for large-scale promotion, or even as a representative.”
“…”
The discussion reached the end, everyone fell into contemplation.
《Influenza》 whale swallowing other films in the Spring Festival slot, box office exploding sea and land, Beijing Circle’s Director Lu even driven to divorce… other families also suffered considerable impact.
And as the institution responsible for external promotional work, a movie like 《Influenza》 that’s popular outside and even more inside seems very suitable to shape as a representative typical, becoming a facade for China’s industrialized films.
But…
Still that problem.
The theme really isn’t quite right; promoting 《Influenza》 like this has put a lot of pressure on many people; now the better 《Influenza》 performs, the greater their pressure.
Of course, fortune and misfortune depend; pressure is high, but work achievements are real.
What they’re considering now is exactly what kind of “historical positioning” to give 《Influenza》.
Thinking this, everyone’s gazes fell on Jin Zhao.
