The Fleeting Years of Chinese Entertainment

The winter chill is gradually fading, the sun is shining brighter, and spring is quietly arriving.

The most famous thing in China recently is that Jiang Wen, a professional at "playing on the edge of decency," has returned to his director position after being banned for five years.

When Jiang Wen revealed that he wanted to make a new movie, Yinghuang Film Company, which had the closest relationship with him, immediately approached the director.

"Director Jiang, we heard you're making a new movie? Yinghuang has come to deliver the filming funds to you."

Jiang Wen was very happy, feeling that his fame had not completely hit rock bottom.

However... reality is always so disappointing.

When he heard Ying Huang's "small conditions," he was momentarily stunned.

……

Lin Mo's "Your Name" has officially been released in theaters in South Korea and Japan.

Its box office performance also surprised filmmakers throughout Asia.

In South Korea, the film topped the national box office on its opening day and remained at the top for seven consecutive days, attracting 148.7788 viewers and generating approximately 12 billion won (about 72 million yuan) in revenue.

It's easy to imagine how high the box office will reach after this movie is completely taken off the screens.

In Japan, the impact was even more astonishing. The film broke various local box office records upon its release, and its popularity rivaled that of Miyazaki Hayao's "Spirited Away."

Moreover, in just one week after its release, it grossed nearly 40 billion yen (about 3 million yuan), directly surpassing the total box office of this film in China.

According to local filmmakers' speculation:

"The film's average weekly box office growth has been stable, demonstrating enduring appeal, so when 'Your Name' was completely taken off the screens..."

Its total box office may directly exceed 200 billion yen (approximately 15 billion RMB), becoming the second highest-grossing film in Japan, second only to "Spirited Away."

When this news reached China, everyone in the film industry was stunned…

"Holy crap! What kind of amazing movie did Director Lin make? Just the box office figures from China, South Korea, and Japan alone are likely to break the record for the highest-grossing Chinese film released overseas, previously held by 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'!"

"No doubt about it... Director Lin is awesome!"

"Now, Director Lin is really going to become the most sought-after person in the industry."

……

Not only did netizens discuss it extensively, but the media also reported a large number of news reports about the huge success of "Your Name" overseas.

Congratulations to director Lin on the great success of "Your Name" in overseas theaters...

"Congratulations to Director Lin on becoming the highest-grossing film in China..."

"Congratulations to Director Lin on successfully joining the ranks of internationally renowned directors..."

The reports were practically praising Lin Mo to the skies, each one more outspoken than the last!

Moreover, not only was the domestic entertainment industry abuzz with excitement, but even some filmmakers abroad had deeply imprinted the name Lin Mo in their minds.

Who is the happiest person at this moment?

That would be none other than Han Sanping, who bought the rights to Lin Mo's film in other regions in advance.

"Haha...we've hit the jackpot! We've really hit the jackpot!"

Fortunately, Han Sanping is currently at a "critical" moment, otherwise he might have been celebrating with a couple of drinks in his office.

"The company's estimated total box office for South Korea and Japan is 17 billion RMB... Hehe, the final result should be pretty close to that."

"In that case, how come the total box office in other regions can't reach another 17 billion? Xiao Lin, you've really given Uncle Han a wonderful gift!"

Fortunately, Lin Mo couldn't see Old Han's smug expression right now, otherwise he really would have given Old Han a piece of his mind:

"You're really overthinking it! If other regions had this many box office numbers, would I be stupid enough to sell it to you so 'cheaply'?"

……

"Congratulations, Director Lin! You're about to break the box office record set by Director Li An. And there are still many places where your film hasn't been released yet. At that point, you'll probably truly be called an international director. Don't forget me then..."

When Zhang Ziyi learned about the box office performance of "Your Name" in Japan and South Korea, she was somewhat surprised and speechless.

This is practically a clone of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon... no, it's even more awesome than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

After all, in terms of actors, investment, and the influence of director Lin Mo, "Your Name" was far inferior to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" at the time.

Not to mention that this movie is about to gross more than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in just three regions: China, Japan, and South Korea. What if we add other regions as well?

Zhang Ziyi couldn't quite imagine how much box office "Your Name" would ultimately achieve.

"Hehe... Sister Zhang, you flatter me. It was just luck. This movie might do well at the box office in Asia. If it were released in the West, who knows how it would turn out!" Lin Mo smiled.

This wasn't Lin Mo being modest; after all, of the more than 300 million US dollars this movie grossed in his previous life, nearly 300 million US dollars came from Japan.

The box office in Western regions was really not much. Even in North America, which is known as the holy land of box office, it only took in a few million US dollars. And that was after several months of release.

If Han Sanping had known this situation earlier... he probably would never have spent "so much money" to acquire the film rights from Lin Mo.

"Hehe... Director Lin, please stop being modest. Based on the current performance of 'Your Name' in overseas markets, it's a certainty that it will surpass 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' in global box office. The only question is whether it has a chance to break 3 million US dollars."

Andy Lau also came to congratulate Lin Mo, and he was quite surprised as well.

He knew Lin Mo was awesome, but he never expected Lin Mo to be this awesome!

A movie with over $2 million in budget... How many years has it been since a movie like that was made in China?

Since "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the highest-grossing Chinese film overseas is "Hero," which achieved a total box office of over one hundred million US dollars.

It's a bit of a shame that the copyrights overseas aren't "our own"...

Meanwhile...

Ms. Liu from the "Condor Heroes" crew is currently showing her mother Lin Mo's "achievements" on her laptop.

"Look... Mom, look! Xiao Mo's movie is a huge hit overseas! It might gross over 200 million US dollars in Japan alone!"

Liu Yifei pointed happily at the reports about "Your Name" on the computer screen, feeling incredibly joyful.

After all, she was also the female lead in this movie, and she shared in the honor, just like Lin Mo.