I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 273: $2.1 Billion in Box Office!
If……

From the 1990s to the post-millennium era, if you were to ask children who their heroes were and what their craziest toys were... the answer would definitely be Ultraman!
After the turn of the millennium, just how crazy was the influence of Ultraman in China?

In 2001, Ultraman practically dominated children's toy boxes and television sets in China. The genuine Ultraman merchandise shelves in shopping malls were emptied, and the pirated merchandise stalls were packed with customers. Even the small shops near schools were selling "knock-off Ultraman" figures for 5 yuan each.

In the latter half of 2001, the Chinese market experienced a complete shortage of authorized transformation devices and soft vinyl figures from the brand "Wandai". Parents lined up to buy them for their children, and scalpers resold popular items at inflated prices, creating a scene of near frenzy...

In 2002, a Japanese tokusatsu company collaborated with several Chinese television stations for the first time, officially importing "Ultraman." Subsequently, this tokusatsu series was repeatedly broadcast on major Chinese television stations, dominating viewership ratings and surpassing all other animated films of the same period. VCD/DVD sales soared to the top of music and video store charts, and pirate distributors made a fortune from "Ultraman" discs.

With the popularity of tokusatsu films, the market for their derivative toys has exploded like a volcanic eruption. Whether in high-end department stores or street stalls, transformation devices and soft vinyl monster models are always placed in the most eye-catching positions, driving countless children crazy...

According to the 2003 China Toy Industry Report, the annual sales of the genuine "Digouteman" transformation device alone exceeded 500 million units. Counterfeit manufacturers even fought each other over the molds, frequently making the news...

That year, "Ultraman toys" were definitely in the top three of the birthday wish lists of Chinese children!
Even the Japanese company, Encore, didn't expect that their Giant of Light would become such a sensation across the ocean...

After all, it's so popular that even the old man roasting sweet potatoes on the street knows about Ultraman...

Seeing how popular it was in the Chinese market, at the end of 2003, [Yuan Gu] Company immediately sensed an opportunity. The company's senior management held an emergency meeting overnight and finally decided to make "Ultraman Deckard" a strategic project to enter the Chinese market. They not only added $500 million to the publicity budget, but also sent a core team to China to conduct research, and even made an exception to design exclusive storylines and limited toys for the Chinese market!

Even in public, President Ryuichi Yamamoto repeatedly emphasized to numerous media outlets: "We must value China as much as we value our domestic market; the children here are the light of the future!"

..............................

Early in the morning of June 10.

【Huashang Brothers】

Liu Jinghua silently lowered her head and looked at a data report sent back by the marketing department.

When Ultraman Deckard announced its release in the Chinese market, everyone at Huasheng Brothers, one of the distribution companies, felt the incredible impact of Ultraman Deckard!
Data shows that nearly 60% of toy manufacturers, whether selling genuine or pirated products, are frantically stockpiling goods through various channels. Countless children are clamoring for their parents to buy tickets. In addition, major television stations across China are vying for the broadcasting rights to "Ultraman Deckard," even sparking a bidding war at one point...

The market performance is excellent, and all signs indicate that "Dektherman" is about to set off a brand new tokusatsu craze in China.

However, Liu Jinghua, the head of the film and copyright department of [Huashang Brothers], was not excited by this. Instead, he felt a sense of unease that he could not explain.

She stared at a message that had just been sent to her computer. The latest news showed that Zhou Yang's "Wu Hun 3" was being quietly scheduled for release on the same day, specifically targeting their "Dek Ultraman"!
The battle between "Catwoman" and "The Black Robe Alliance" over the past month can only be described as fierce...

DV Pictures spends $2 million to move its release date forward in a counterattack; Warner Bros., in conjunction with five major Chinese film studios, offers a 10% discount to squeeze out more screenings; Columbia Pictures buys out advertising slots to further suppress its competitors…

This is almost an unwinnable battle!
however……

They still lost!

While there are certainly issues with the positioning and quality of "Catwoman" itself, the bigger problem lies in the complete subversion of market rules and audience choices.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Zhou Yang redefined the rules of the market.

The devastating defeat in October had a devastating impact on China's three major cinema chains, and even on the five film studios involved!
"Has the cinema alliance responded yet?" A gust of wind blew by, and Liu Jinghua picked up the phone and dialed the marketing department.

"Mr. Liu, the attitude of the [Cinema Alliance], especially the 12 cinema chains led by Zhou Yang, is very unified. They stated that they will not violate the principles of [protection of domestic films], but they will not give 'Dekker Ultraman' more screenings, and will only barely maintain the basic number of screenings..."

"Did we tell them our stance?" Liu Jinghua wasn't surprised; she just sighed softly.

"I did say it... but Mr. Dong Qichang maintained a very businesslike attitude..."

"it is good!"

After hanging up the phone, Liu Jinghua sat silently in her office.

A long silence fell over the office.

Immediately afterwards, the phone rang.

The call was from [Huaying International]...

In fact, today, not only Huaying International, but also Fengyu International and Tianxing Film & Television have called her one after another.

The message is the same: hold their last breath and continue to strangle Zhou Yang with toys...

This October can be described as a "black October" for everyone.

The disastrous failure of "Catwoman" and the subsequent box office flops of many other domestically produced films have plunged China's five major film companies and three major cinema chains into a quagmire.

The sharp drop in Hong Kong stocks is only part of the problem. The worst part is that Zhou Yang, whom all of them couldn't suppress with such methods, has now been spotted by capital and is rapidly growing with the help of investment, launching relentless attacks against them day and night...

In fact, it wasn't just the management of the cinema system that was being poached; even the management of [Huashang Brothers] were forced to raise salaries to stabilize their core business due to the aggressive poaching by [Xuanshi Entertainment]. "President Liu! I fucking saw the market data for 'Dekker Ultraman'!" Li Mingrui's voice was a little hoarse, but it couldn't hide a hint of madness, like a gambler driven to desperation: "Sixty! Sixty toy manufacturers are stockpiling it! TV stations are practically ringing off the hook with calls from people vying for the broadcasting rights! Did you hear those little brats screaming in the mall? This is what a real IP looks like!"

Seeing her silence, the other person said again, "Last time, 'Catwoman' was an accident! This time, it's a national IP that's been rooted for twenty years! I've done my research, and nine out of ten boys under the age of eight in China have an Ultraman toy hidden under their pillow! Zhou Yang, this time, there's no way he can win!"

"Isn't Zhou Yang supposed to be in 'Wu Hun 3' at the same time? Let him be in it! When the theater is full of kids holding glow sticks, I'd like to see his tattered martial arts costume go to ghosts!"

"Listen, Liu Jinghua! If we lose again this time..." His breathing suddenly became heavy, but he gritted his teeth: "No, we can't lose! I have absolute confidence. Tell [Huashang] to increase the publicity budget by another 30%! Replace all the subway station billboards with Daike's ultimate special effects! I want every child in the country to be dreaming of 'transformation'! Zhou Yang wants to crush us, right? This time, I'll let him see with his own eyes... what crushing market rules really mean!"

"..."

Li Mingrui from Huaying International sounded somewhat frantic on the phone, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage!
Liu Jinghua was not surprised. In fact, the tone of the calls from Fengyu International and Tianxing Film and Television to her was similar to that of Li Mingrui.

After listening, Liu Jinghua did not respond, but sighed softly: "We don't want to fight anymore, and we don't want to take sides anymore..."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, followed by what sounded like shock: "Are you crazy? You fucking lost all your spirit after being beaten by Zhou Yang? Such a good opportunity!"

"We will invest sufficient resources and market presence, but we will not force distributors to choose sides between the Ultraman and Wuhun series of merchandise... Let the market and theaters decide..."

"Damn it, Zhou Yang is going to use his own theaters to limit the screenings of your 'Ultraman,' you couldn't possibly not know that!"

“I know, but weren’t we like this before?” Liu Jinghua suddenly said.

"you……"

"Mr. Liu, also, we will not release 'Dekker Ultraman' ahead of schedule. We will respect market rules and wait for 'Black Robe Alliance' to finish its run..."

"Damn it! If 'The Black Robe Alliance' gets extended for a few more days, its box office will be close to 'Spider-Man's'. Are you really going to let 'The Black Robe Alliance' take the top spot instead of stopping it?"

"It's pointless..."

"..."

Liu Jinghua hung up the phone.

Almost immediately after I hung up the phone, there was a knock on the office door.

Then...

The secretary walked in.

"Mr. Liu, the daily box office figures for 'The Black Robe Alliance' are in..."

"How much?"

"There's still a potential daily box office of two million, and the total box office has officially surpassed 3.69 million, only 1200 million away from 'Spider-Man's' total box office of 3.81 million... However, the good news is that the extension period is almost up. Unless the people on the [Theatrical Alliance] side inflate the box office figures or shamelessly extend it again, reaching the top will be quite difficult... Of course, for someone like Zhou Yang who has no bottom line, inflating the box office figures doesn't seem to be a shocking thing..."

"..."

The secretary said this with a complicated expression.

Liu Jinghua nodded, but did not respond; he seemed somewhat dazed.

After what seemed like an eternity, Liu Jinghua asked again, "How much has 'The Black Robe Alliance' grossed worldwide?"

The secretary trembled slightly after hearing this.

Then, he silently flipped through the documents...

After a long silence, her pupils contracted sharply, and she said with a complicated expression.

"The total global box office of The Resurrection is close to $8000 million."

"And the Black Robe Alliance..."

"A global box office of $2.1 million!"

"This is the first Chinese film to surpass $2 million in global box office..."

"..."

(End of this chapter)