Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 127 received a warm response.

When "Reign of Assassins" finished its run, its final box office gross was 173 million. This figure is already top-tier in today's Chinese-language film market.

With this film, Zhang Jun officially joined the "100 Million Yuan Director Club," and became the youngest member of it.

But the record held by "Reign of Assassins" did not last long.

By the end of July, "Bad Genius" had surpassed 200 million yuan at the box office. It only took a short month from its release to reaching 200 million yuan.

What this number means is clear to everyone in the industry.

To date, only three Chinese-language films have grossed over 200 million yuan at the box office, and the first two were both films by Zhang Yimou.

The figures are 250 million for "Hero" and 291 million for "Curse of the Golden Flower".

The last film to break 200 million was Zhang Jun's "Bad Genius".

In other words, Zhang Jun single-handedly broke Zhang Yimou's monopoly on the "200 million club".

The day the news broke, entertainment media outlets were inundated with calls. The next day, it was the headline story on every major newspaper and portal website.

The headline of the Beijing Entertainment News read: "Bad Genius surpasses 200 million yuan at the box office, making Zhang Jun the youngest director to reach 200 million yuan."

The headline of the Beijing News was: "From 'Little Miss Sunshine' to 'Bad Genius,' why are all of Zhang Jun's films hits?"

The Southern Metropolis Daily's headline was even more direct: "After Zhang Yimou, is the Zhang Jun era arriving in Chinese-language cinema?"

The portal websites were also bustling with activity. Sina Entertainment did a special feature titled: "The Zhang Jun Phenomenon: The Road to Success for a Non-Professional Director".

Sohu News held a poll asking netizens, "Do you think Zhang Jun's next movie can break 300 million?" Tens of thousands of people participated in the poll, and 60% of them chose "yes".

Needless to say, it's even more so online.

On Baidu Tieba, Zhang Jun's fans were celebrating like it was Chinese New Year.

Someone posted: "It's broken 200 million! It's broken 200 million! From today onwards, if anyone dares to say Zhang Jun is no good, I'll fight them!"

A comment below read: "It was always going to work, it's just that there wasn't data to prove it before. Now that the data is here, let's see who can still deny it."

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"To be honest, when I first watched 'Little Miss Sunshine,' I thought this person would make it big, but I didn't expect them to make it so quickly."

"About Time was already amazing, Reign of Assassins took it to another level, and now Bastard has broken 200 million. Zhang Jun's upward trajectory is even more impressive than the stock market."

"Zhang Yimou's two films are both period epics. How much was the investment? Zhang Jun's film, on the other hand, only cost a few hundred million. The difference in quality is significant."

This statement sparked controversy.

Some countered, "How can the quality be different? Box office revenue is box office revenue; audiences pay for tickets, so what's the difference in value?"

Some people also supported this view: "I think it's definitely different. Look at the scale of 'Hero' and 'Curse of the Golden Flower'—they were heavily promoted by the national media, and Zhang Yimou's name was a golden brand."

What about Zhang Jun? He built his reputation one film at a time, through sheer hard work and word-of-mouth; that's even harder.

"That's right, and the visuals of 'Hero' and 'Curse of the Golden Flower' are indeed amazing, but as for the story—Zhang Jun's films tell a clear story and have believable characters, that's real skill."

Similar debates are common online.

Some people compare Zhang Yimou to Zhang Jun, while others compare "Hero" to "Bad Genius," and no one can convince the other.

But one thing is certain: Zhang Jun's name can no longer be defined simply as an "up-and-coming director".

The industry is also discussing it.

At a dinner party, several industry insiders got together, and the topic naturally turned to Zhang Jun.

"Two hundred million! I've been making movies for twenty years, and I don't even earn as much as he does in one day." An old producer took a sip of his drink, his tone filled with emotion.

The person next to him said, "That's right. The key is that it's only been a few years. From their first film to now, it's only been a little over four years."

"Four years, five movies, all of them profitable, and the last one even broke 200 million. What does that mean?"

"Genius, what else could it be?"

"Even geniuses need someone to support them. His partner, Ye Xiaoyi, is rumored to be the daughter of the owner of Chengxin Real Estate. If it weren't for her, where would Zhang Jun have gotten the money for his first film?"

Upon hearing this, someone disagreed: "You're wrong. His first film was a short film, shot at school, and it didn't cost much."

The reason they were able to attract investment later was because the short film won an award, proving its quality.

There are plenty of wealthy people in this circle, but very few know how to spend their money wisely. The fact that someone can get Boss Ye to part with his money is a testament to their skill.

"That's true. Besides, who wouldn't want to invest in him now? I heard that several companies are lining up to get his approval; they've practically worn out the doorstep."

"So, which company does he plan to partner with?"

"He's still working with Guanzhi Pictures, and he also has his own studio. I heard he's planning to expand his studio into a company soon, and become his own boss."

"Be your own boss? That's even more impressive. These days, you can count the number of people who can direct, write, and run their own company on one hand."

The veteran producer put down his glass and said, "Anyway, no matter what, this kid has made it big. As long as he doesn't make any major mistakes, he'll have a place in this industry in the future."

Those around him nodded in agreement.

Media reports continue, but the focus is gradually shifting from the "box office exceeding 200 million" figure itself to an exploration of the reasons behind it.

China Film Report did a special feature, inviting several film critics to analyze the films.

One film critic said, "The success of 'Bad Genius' lies first and foremost in its scarcity. In the history of Chinese-language cinema, it's hard to find a film of the same type."

Youth films? Yes, but those are about romance. Crime films? Yes, but those are about the underworld.

This is the first time we've combined youth and crime, using cheating on exams as a starting point.

Another film critic added: "Scarcity is only one aspect; the key is good execution."

Zhang Jun has a very strong grasp of this subject matter. He filmed a cheating incident with the tension of a spy movie, and the pacing, editing, and soundtrack are all above average.

Not everyone can do that.

The host asked, "How does it compare to Director Zhang's films?"

The first film critic smiled and said, "It's not easy to compare them. Director Zhang's films are a different style. But one thing is certain: Zhang Jun's films tell a more solid story and the characters are more believable."

It's truly remarkable that viewers can remember the characters and discuss the plot after watching the film.

Online viewers commented: "I just like Zhang Jun's movies because he tells the stories of ordinary people."

Films like *Hero* are too far removed from our lives, but the students in *Bad Genius*, the pressure of exams, the uncertainty about the future—these are things we've all experienced.

Furthermore, some people say, "In every film Zhang Jun makes, you can find a reflection of himself."

The family in "Little Miss Sunshine", the love in "About Time", the countryside in "Sherlock on the Plains", and the exams in "Bad Genius".

He wasn't making a movie; he was filming our lives.

Someone replied below: "That's right. That's why we can understand and relate to what he makes. Unlike some directors, who just keep making films about their own little things, what does that have to do with us?"

This statement is a bit extreme, but it represents the thoughts of some viewers.

Along with the film's popularity, several of its lead actors have also become stars.

Yang Mi is the most obvious beneficiary.

Before the release of "Bad Genius," her representative works were mainly Guo Xiang in "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and a few lesser-known TV series.

People in the industry know that this actor exists, but that's about it.

After the movie was released, the situation completely changed.

The role of "Lin Wei" made her an overnight sensation as a rising star. Discussions about her on online forums exploded, with posts like "Yang Mi is the most beautiful" and "Lin Wei is my wife" flooding the screen.

The media also began to pay attention to her, and interview requests came one after another.

More practically, it's about changes in resources.

Previously, the production teams would choose her for roles. Now it's the other way around; a bunch of scripts are handed to her, and she gets to choose. Her acting fees used to be very low, but now they've more than doubled.

She used to receive almost no endorsement offers, but now brands are lining up to approach her, offering everything from beverages and clothing to cosmetics.

Yang Mi's company is Rong Xinda. When they signed her, it didn't take much effort. They just felt that this girl had talent, so they signed her and nurtured her slowly.

Who would have thought that she would become famous on her own before the company even had a chance to make any effort?

And it became so incredibly popular.

The owner of Rongxinda had very mixed feelings during that period.

On one hand, they were happy, having snagged a popular actress for free without spending a penny on resources—it was like a windfall. On the other hand, they were also a bit confused. Now that this girl was famous, how should the company treat her? Should they stick to the original contract, or would they have to renegotiate?

Later, I realized that Yang Mi became famous because of Zhang Jun. Everyone in the industry knows what their relationship is.

If you can't afford to offend them, then you should flatter them.

So the company assigned Yang Mi a dedicated agent and a special team, and she turned down all those random gigs, only accepting high-quality work.

Yang Mi agrees to any request she makes, as long as it's not excessive.

Once, Yang Mi wanted to change her car, and the company provided her with an Audi without hesitation. Yang Mi herself was taken aback, wondering when the company had become so generous.

Her agent told her privately, "You're the company's darling now. As long as you work hard, you'll have everything you need."

Yang Mi knew in her heart that it wasn't any treasure at all; it was just because of Zhang Jun.

But she didn't say anything; she just cooperated and did her work as required.

Wen Zhang also became famous.

The role of Chen Qi transformed him from a supporting actor in a TV series into "the most promising new generation male actor".

The media praised his performance as "layered" and "perfectly nuanced," and people in the industry began to take notice of this young man.

He's getting more script offers; movie roles aren't working out, but the offers for TV drama roles are starting to be more upscale. He's also set a wedding date with Ma Yili at the end of the year, and they've invited Zhang Jun to their wedding.

Previously, Ma Yili was very famous, and Wen Zhang felt that the two were not a good match, but now that he is famous, he no longer has this problem.

Jiang Yan and Wang Kai have also signed with their respective companies; Jiang Yan signed with Huayi Brothers, and Wang Kai signed with Orange Sky Entertainment.

Both of them knew that their fame was due to Zhang Jun's acting. Before leaving, they both came to thank Zhang Jun and told him not to hesitate to ask if he needed their help in the future.

Zhang Jun nodded, saying nothing more. These young people will have to walk their own paths from now on.

He Xuan privately did some calculations with Zhang Jun: "With one film, 'Bad Genius,' you created four stars. Yang Mi is now a top-tier actress, and Wen Zhang, Jiang Yan, and Wang Kai have also made their mark."

If these four people do well in the future, they'll remember this favor for the rest of their lives.

Zhang Jun said, "Whether they remember or not is their business, whether I give it to them or not is my business. The fact that I was able to promote them through this play shows that they have the ability themselves, it's not just my achievement."

He Xuan laughed and said, "You're just being modest."

Creating stars is easier said than done. The script has to be suitable, the role has to be right, the actor has to perform well, and the audience has to accept it; none of these can be missing.

The success of "Bad Genius" is a combination of luck and talent, but whether it can be replicated next time is anyone's guess.

After returning from Shanghai, Ye Xiaoyi has been keeping a close eye on the film's box office performance.

She would ask He Xuan to send her data every day, and watching the numbers rise day by day filled her with more joy than when she made money herself.

One day, she was on the phone with Zhang Jun and said, "You know what? My dad is praising you to everyone he meets now."

Zhang Jun asked, "What did you praise me for?"

Ye Xiaoyi said, "I praise you for your foresight, I praise you for your ability, and I praise myself for choosing the right person back then."

Zhang Jun laughed and said, "President Ye is putting me on the hot seat."

Ye Xiaoyi said, "What's with the roasting? He really thinks you're capable. You don't know, their group has used you as an example several times in meetings to discuss the development of the cinema chain."

The trend you predicted for the lower-tier market is now becoming a reality.

Zhang Jun said, "That's because your Chengxin Group has good judgment; I was just making a suggestion."

Ye Xiaoyi said, "Don't be modest. My dad said that once you're done with this busy period, you must come over for dinner. He wants to thank you properly."

Zhang Jun agreed and hung up the phone.

He knew in his heart that Ye Bingcheng invited him to dinner not just to thank him, but more importantly, to solidify their relationship.

Zhang Jun's current momentum is obvious to everyone.

Now that Chengxin Group has boarded this ship, it naturally wants to be tied even tighter.

Zhang Jun wasn't opposed to this; business cooperation is inherently about mutual benefit and success. As long as the bottom line is maintained, everything else is negotiable.

In early August, the box office of "Bad Genius" was still slowly growing. Although the peak period had passed, it was still bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars every day.

The theaters haven't completely withdrawn the screenings yet, because the attendance rate is still acceptable.

Based on this trend, the final box office is very likely to reach 230 million.

Zhang Jun was already very satisfied with this number.

He calculated that, including his previous films, his personal cumulative box office had exceeded 500 million. In this day and age, few directors, let alone new ones, can achieve this.

But Zhang Jun wasn't blinded by these numbers. He knew that box office numbers fluctuate; they can rise and fall. Today it might break 200 million, but tomorrow it could flop.

The key is not to get carried away; we have to keep working and keep making films.