Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 785 Hindsight

Marvel confirmed long ago that Avengers: Endgame was the final chapter of a phase of Marvel's story, after which a new superhero saga would begin.

At this point, Marvel was still very confident, confident that the superheroes in the next chapter would still be able to wreak havoc.

Without a God's-eye view, it's understandable that Marvel thinks this way. Anyone in Marvel's position would feel that they would continue to win.

From a small workshop on the verge of bankruptcy with almost all of its IPs sold off, to becoming the world's most profitable film company, anyone would become arrogant.

Marvel really cares about the Chinese market; over the past decade, the Chinese market has contributed a huge amount of box office revenue to Marvel movies.

Therefore, Avengers: Endgame was still released two days earlier than in North America.

Chinese audiences are indeed among the most enthusiastic in the world; long queues had already formed at cinemas before midnight. Some cinemas even planned to stay open all night.

With a staggering 83% of screenings on its opening day, it's safe to assume that cinemas across the country were showing "Avengers: Endgame" on the 24th.

This movie is 3 hours long!!

Li Qiutang was somewhat indignant. "Damn cinemas! You think my 'The Wandering Earth' is too long at two hours, but you're lining up for its three-hour movie!"
Avengers: Endgame raked in 5.37 million yuan at the box office on its opening day!
If we include the midnight box office, its total opening day gross reached a staggering 7.24 million!
It broke the record for the highest opening day box office in Chinese film history, previously held by "Monster Hunt 2".

If Avengers: Endgame is a huge success, then let's celebrate and cheer! But some people just have to argue.

And they were impatient.

After the opening day box office results for "Avengers: Endgame" were announced, some people, and on a large scale, criticized "The Wandering Earth," which was still showing in theaters—"The Wandering Earth" received a second extension and will be shown until May 6.

The criticisms are nothing more than the same old, tired clichés.

Some say that "The Wandering Earth" has a simplistic story and that its humor and emotional moments are forced.

Some say that the narrative pace of "The Wandering Earth" is slow at the beginning and fast at the end, and that the character motivations and emotional portrayals are somewhat thin, making it less vivid than "Avengers: Endgame".

"The domestic film market is protected by policies that are too good. This is an important reason why The Wandering Earth has such a high box office. If it had been released at the same time as Avengers: Endgame, The Wandering Earth's box office would probably not even be a fraction of Avengers's."

Li Qiutang didn't bother to respond to these comments during the peak of "The Wandering Earth's" run, and now that the movie is almost out of theaters, he doesn't even bother to read them anymore.

But fans of "The Wandering Earth" disagreed and spoke out in support of the little broken planet.

"The Wandering Earth's mere 5 million yuan budget has made many people who could have made quick money by making bad movies feel ashamed, and the market is increasingly leaving them with no place to hide. So, these people seized the opportunity to try to suppress The Wandering Earth. With the movie about to be taken off the screens and the audience's emotions subsiding, their chance has finally arrived."

"Wow, these trolls are really something. Nobody said anything when Avatar and Transformers came out, but now that The Wanderer is out, everyone's criticizing it for not being scientific? Aren't American sci-fi movies all about one person awakening and saving the world? Now you're criticizing the plot? If a perfect movie is ever made in the future, it will definitely be thanks to you keyboard warriors. The grass is always greener on the other side."

Two days later, Avengers: Endgame opened in North America, breaking the North American opening day record with $150 million.

Global sales reached $12.09 billion in the first weekend, with the Chinese market contributing $3.1 million, or approximately 22.3 billion yuan.

"Speak up, haters! 'The Wandering Earth' grossed 31 billion in its opening weekend! Shout it out! Are you the only one who knows how to watch movies? Are all the audiences during the Spring Festival blind?!"

"Judging from the looks of it, the haters will bring up the release date again. The Spring Festival period is hot, so it is easy to boost the box office. The May Day period is not hot, and there are not many people."

"Have the guts to confront the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and demand that they loosen the release schedule. What kind of skill is it to criticize a movie? Isn't there supposed to be policy protection? Go criticize the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television then. The only mistake Little Ball made was making so much money. For a domestic film to become the highest-grossing film in history, this is worse than killing them."

"Li Qiutang made a film with 5 million yuan, becoming the highest-grossing film in history. Some people make 5 million yuan and end up with a pile of dissertations. Li Qiutang is so wicked! How are they going to scam money in the future?" These are all minor issues. "The Wandering Earth" is about to be taken off the screens, and they don't want to cause any more trouble.

There weren't many films released during the May Day holiday this year, so "Avengers: Endgame" had no competition and it's no surprise that it dominated the market.

But Avengers: Endgame grossed over 2 billion yuan in its opening weekend, yet it didn't even make it onto the trending topics list.

Because today's trending topic is Liu Shishi giving birth.

Uncle Wu, who had been questioned for so many years, was finally exonerated at the age of 49.

Netizens jokingly said he had a child late in life. It seems that Wu Qilong has never been very popular since the two got married.

However, the arrival of a new baby is a joyous occasion, and most netizens and fans offered their blessings.

Fun fact: Liu Shishi also had a TV series called "If I Can Love You Like This" aired earlier this month, a series that had been shelved for 3 years.

The viewership ratings were actually quite good, ranking either second or first nationwide. However, the show may have been delayed for too long, and the leading actress, who was expected to carry the show, was unable to work due to maternity leave, resulting in a lack of online discussion.

The mistake the "Wandering Earth" crew made was holding a grand celebration banquet the day before the holiday and inviting the media to film and interview.

Although the movie is still showing, its box office success of 60 billion is a foregone conclusion. Even if Li Qiutang doesn't want to hold a celebration banquet, the companies won't allow it.

Not only will they not agree, they will also make a big fuss about it.

The celebration banquet featured a red carpet and invited celebrity guests, making it resemble an awards ceremony.

Therefore, some reporters wanted to use "Avengers: Endgame" to interrogate "The Wandering Earth".

"Director, have you seen Avengers: Endgame?"

"Not yet. But I know it did very well at the box office." Li Qiutang was unaware that netizens were comparing the two films.

"Many netizens think that Avengers: Endgame will surpass The Wandering Earth. What do you think of this statement?"

"That's fine. Records are meant to be broken, it's normal." That's the truth.

"I saw you say in 2016 that Hollywood would have a three to five-year growth period in China, after which it would be abandoned by Chinese audiences. Now that Avengers: Endgame is doing so well, will you change your previous statement?"

This question was very impolite, and the staff on site wanted to stop the interview, but Li Qiutang said, "It's okay, it's okay, you can ask me that. What did you ask me just now?" Li Qiutang asked him to repeat himself.

"Back in 2016, you said that Hollywood blockbusters would have a three-to-five-year growth period in China, after which they would stop selling well. Now, Avengers: Endgame has grossed nearly 3 billion yuan in China. Do you still hold your previous view?"

Li Qiutang reiterated: "I still hold the same view as before, three to five years. This year is the third year, right? The time is almost up. Come back and see me next year or the year after."

After answering the question, Li Qiutang left the interview area and entered the venue.

Such troublemaking reporters are a minority; most reporters who are invited know what they should and shouldn't ask.

Someone asked Wu Jing, "Do you have any news about a second season?" Didn't the director ask you that earlier?
Wu Jing laughed and said, "I don't know. I'm already dead, so I won't be in the second part, right?"

(End of this chapter)