Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 608 (606): A Global Hit

Friday, December 8, 2005.

At 5 p.m., the temperature in Beijing was still above 30 degrees Celsius, but long queues had already formed in front of the various "China Film Grand Cinemas" along Chang'an Avenue.

Zhang Wei, the duty manager of the Wangfujing store, stood behind the glass curtain wall on the second floor, looking at the dark mass of people below, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Manager Zhang, the tickets for the 6:30 showing in the IMAX theater are sold out." The voice of the ticket office manager came through the walkie-talkie.

What about the 7 PM show?

"They're almost gone; there are only a few seats left in the corner."

Zhang Wei took a deep breath.

He has managed this flagship cinema for three years, witnessing the frenzy surrounding the release of "Titanic" and the grand opening of "Havoc in Heaven," but this is the first time he has seen people queuing up as early as 5 p.m. for an evening showing.

Downstairs in the queue, most of the people were young, but there were also quite a few middle-aged couples. Several girls who looked like students were excitedly taking pictures with their phones. In the background was a three-meter-high standing poster at the entrance of the cinema—Jackie Chan wearing a black suit, making a classic kung fu pose with one hand on the ground, next to the name of director Wu Yiyi, and the logo of "Produced with honor by Shengying Media".

"I heard that Jackie Chan fought really hard this time!"

"That scene in the trailer where he jumps from a tall building into the swimming pool was so cool..."

"An action comedy produced by Shengying is bound to be good."

The sounds of discussion could be faintly heard through the glass.

Zhang Wei picked up the walkie-talkie: "Security team, maintain order. When letting people in at six o'clock, make sure to do it in batches. The concession stand should stock up on extra popcorn and cola; we're definitely going to break records tonight."

"clear."

“Also,” Zhang Wei added, “we should put the merchandise display shelves for ‘The Hitman’ in the most prominent position, with keychains, T-shirts, posters, whatever we have.”

"Good manager."

……

At 6:00 p.m. sharp, the cinema gates opened on time.

The crowd surged in like a tidal wave.

"Your ticket is for IMAX Theater 3, seat 8 in row 6."

"One popcorn combo, please, and a large Coke."

Do you have a poster for "The Hitman's Bodyguard"? I'd like an autographed one!

The hall was bustling with noise.

At 6:20 PM, 90% of the 500 seats in IMAX Theater 3 were already occupied. Pre-screening advertisements were playing on the screen: trailers for new films from Sheng Ying Film Group, promotions for the new version of "Legend of Mir," and trailers for the "China-US International Film Festival" to be held in the fall.

The lights went out.

The dragon logo appeared, followed by the gold logo of Shengying Media, the logo of Jackie Chan's Emperor Motion Pictures, and the logos of Shanghai Film Group and China Film Group, which co-produced the film.

The movie starts.

The film opens with a thrilling car chase—Jackie Chan plays Li Wei, a washed-up bodyguard who is protecting an important witness on the streets of Western Europe when they are ambushed by a group of mercenaries. Narrow alleys, densely packed shops, and hanging signs all become his "weapons." It features classic Jackie Chan kung fu comedy style, but with sharper action choreography and a fast-paced editing that leaves you breathless.

"Wow--"

Gasps of surprise erupted in the theater.

When Li Wei leaped from the rooftop of a five-story building, landing precisely in the swimming pool below, and then bursting out of the water to continue the pursuit, the entire audience erupted in applause.

"This is the Jackie Chan I know!" one audience member exclaimed.

Plot unfolds: Li Wei's career plummets after a failed protection mission. Three years later, his former rival, a top assassin (Samuel L. Jackson), becomes the witness he must protect. The two go from mutual dislike to being forced to cooperate, defusing multiple assassination attempts within 24 hours and ultimately uncovering the mastermind behind it all…

The 110-minute film features action scenes that make up over 60% of its runtime, but the dramatic scenes are equally solid.

The verbal sparring between Li Wei and the assassin, as well as the subtle emotional connection between Li Wei and the person he is protecting, are all handled naturally and without dragging.

The final scene takes place on the top floor of the Western European Convention Centre, where Jackie Chan and Lau Ching-wan stand back-to-back to fight dozens of mercenaries. The long take of the fight, combined with drone aerial shots, captures the night view of Victoria Harbour.

As the credits rolled, the theater lights came on.

The audience rose reluctantly, many still immersed in the action scenes they had just witnessed.

"This is so exciting! This is the kind of movie Jackie Chan should be making!"

"Shengying's action scenes have never disappointed."

In the exit corridor, murmurs of discussion could be heard incessantly.

Standing at the exit, Zhang Wei looked at the excited expressions on the audience's faces and knew in his heart that the film's reputation was secure.

……

At the same time, in Western Europe, at the Emperor Theatre in Times Square, Causeway Bay.

At 7:30 p.m., the largest screening room was packed.

Unlike mainland Chinese audiences, Western European audiences have a more special affection for Jackie Chan. This is his "home turf," the place where he rose from stuntman to international superstar. In recent years, Jackie Chan's career in Hollywood has not been smooth sailing; several of his films have had mediocre box office performances, and some media outlets have even said that "Jackie Chan's era is over."

But tonight, when Jackie Chan's signature action sequences appeared at the beginning of the film, the entire audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and whistles.

"Jackie Chan! Jackie Chan!"

Some fans shouted excitedly.

Throughout the two-hour screening, laughter, exclamations, and applause filled the air. The film's Hong Kong-style humor and familiar street scenes, in particular, resonated deeply with the local audience. As the screening ended, a film enthusiast in his fifties remarked to his companion, "Ah Lung is back; this is the kind of role he should be playing. Those Hollywood directors simply don't know how to film him."

"Wang Sheng from Shengying is amazing; he can help Jackie Chan get back into form."

"I heard that Wang Sheng personally revised the script for this film, and the action choreography was also done by Sheng Ying's team..."

"No wonder."

The cinema manager looked at the surging crowd and then at the screening schedule—the screening rate for "The Hitman's Bodyguard" had increased to 70% tomorrow.

……

Tokyo, Japan, TOHO Cinema in Shinjuku.

At 8 p.m., the last show of "The Ace Bodyguard" (Japanese title: "The Strongest Bodyguard") had just ended.

Japanese audiences have mixed feelings about Jackie Chan—they love his kung fu movies, but they're also aware of his struggles in Hollywood. However, the atmosphere in the theater was very enthusiastic tonight.

“Wow! (Awesome!)” A young man walked along, mimicking the actions from the movie.

"Jackie Chan's action scenes are indeed the best."

"Chinese Film Company, and the recent R&B Film Company (China's film companies, their level has improved a lot recently)."

It's worth mentioning that thanks to the long-term collaboration between Sheng Ying and Shochiku Pictures, the distribution of "The Hitman's Bodyguard" in Japan went very smoothly. On its opening day, it accounted for over 40% of screenings in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, with occupancy rates generally exceeding 80%.

In a report to headquarters, the distribution director of Shochiku Films wrote: "The success of 'The Hitman's Bodyguard' proves that the combination of Jackie Chan and Sheng Ying still has a strong appeal in the Asian market. We recommend increasing investment in follow-up promotion to strive for a domestic box office of over 3 billion yen."

……

CGV Myeongdong Store, Seoul, South Korea.

At 9 p.m., the audience in the screening room had just experienced a visual feast.

South Korean audiences are notoriously picky about action films, but the overall quality of "The Hitman's Bodyguard" left them with few flaws. The dual male lead setup of Jackie Chan and Lau Ching-wan, Li Binbin's cool and sassy performance, and the clean and crisp fight choreography all meet the South Korean market's demands for commercial films.

"(The action scenes were really cool)."

"(Has Jackie Chan rediscovered his old form?)"

"(Chinese films are doing quite well lately)."

It's worth mentioning that, given that "Seoul Farewell" just won the Golden Bear at Berlin, South Korean media and audiences are paying close attention to films produced by Shengying. Before the release of "The Hitman's Bodyguard," mainstream South Korean media outlets did special reports, calling it "Jackie Chan's comeback film" and "another demonstration of Shengying's industrial standards."

The feedback from theaters was also very positive: "The occupancy rate on the first day exceeded 70%, and it is expected to be packed on the weekend. We suggest increasing the number of screenings."

……

The situation is largely the same in major cities in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Jackie Chan has always had a strong box office appeal in Southeast Asia, and coupled with the brand reputation that Sheng Ying has built up in recent years through co-productions and film festival screenings, "The Hitman's Bodyguard" encountered almost no resistance and occupied prime time slots in major cinemas.

The manager of a cinema in Kuala Lumpur said, "Today, more people came to ask about 'The Hitman's Bodyguard' than about 'Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Fallen.' Jackie Chan's name is a golden brand here."

……

North America, Los Angeles, Westwood AMC theater.

At 7 p.m. Pacific Time on July 8, the weekend movie-going peak began.

New Line Cinema allocated 2200 screens across the United States for "The Bodyguard," a relatively large distribution scale. In terms of promotion, the main selling points were "Jackie Chan's return to action comedy" and "the return of the 'Rush Hour' style."

At the ticket counter, there were many Asian faces in the queue, but the majority were local viewers attracted by the trailer.

"When I was a child, I watched Cheng's 'Rumble in the Bronx,' and that was the first time I knew that Chinese kung fu could be so funny."

"The car chase scene in the trailer looks pretty good."

"If it's a new release, the quality should be guaranteed, right?"

In the screening room, the audience's reaction was somewhat calmer than in Asian markets, but they still laughed when they should and gasped when they should. Jackie Chan's signature fight scenes that utilized the environment still elicited bursts of laughter.

However, opinions from North American film critics are more divided.

The Hollywood Reporter's short review stated: "Jackie Chan has returned to the action-comedy formula that made him famous, but the overall film lacks originality. For nostalgic fans, it's a decent comeback; but for audiences expecting innovation, it may be disappointing."

Variety took a more positive view: "In a time when superhero movies are everywhere, it's a pleasure to see a solid action film made with real kung fu and practical effects. The chemistry between Jackie Chan and Lau Ching-wan is surprisingly good."

However, the general audience ratings are four stars or higher (out of five).

"It's much better than those terrible movies he made in Hollywood."

"The action scenes were so exciting, that's enough."

"The ending was a bit rushed, but overall it was worth the ticket price."

At New Line Cinema headquarters, the distribution department was monitoring real-time data. At 10 p.m., the initial figures were roughly as follows: North American box office revenue was approximately $5.8 million, ranking third on the day's box office chart, behind "War of the Worlds" and "Batman Begins".

“It’s not bad,” the publishing director told Kevin Brown. “At this rate, it should gross over 1500 million in its opening weekend. The Asian market will definitely perform even better.”

Brown nodded: "Tell the publicity department to emphasize the point that 'Jackie Chan is returning to his classic style.' Also, contact Sheng Ying and see if Jackie Chan can spare some time for a week of promotional activities."

"clear."

……

(End of this chapter)