The industry was blown wide open by news that felt like a depth charge.
Originally, eyes were on Wu Mu’s New Year celebration event, but they imdiately shifted to Wu Mu’s new movie.
This year’s Spring Festival slot features a fierce competition among more than a dozen hot films. Though "Separation" didn’t even rank in the top three for opening day box office—where the highest cody film made over 300 million.
But the most eye-catching one remains "Separation."
"Separation" is an art film, after all.
Can an art film be compared with a cody or a drama film?
Not considering the audience size, just the basics: the cody with over 300 million on its first day had over 40% of cinema slots, with one out of every two screenings featuring this film.
Yet, "Separation" only had 10% of the screenings!
This wasn’t because the theaters were biased against Wu Mu, but art films typically get such slotting. In fact, this already represents respect for Wu Mu and Cannes; otherwise, it would be even less.
Yet, Wu Mu’s film managed to achieve an opening day box office of 80 million with just 10% of the screenings!?
Everyone was stunned.
"How is his movie’s box office doing so well now?" Zhou Yu smacked the table in anger. If there’s anyone more concerned about Wu Mu’s film release, it’s undoubtedly him.
Although catching up to Wu Mu seed hopeless now and he kept getting overshadowed, films have always been his strong suit.
Before, Wu Mu only overshadowed him in other fields, but now... It’s one thing to feel bad about one’s own failure, but harder to swallow the opponent’s success.
The agent beside him sighed, "If he keeps going like this, he’ll fill in his last missing puzzle piece and truly beco an all-rounder in film, music, and everything."
Previously, Wu Mu always had a weakness in films, with total box office earnings barely reaching a few hundred million, pure flops among the top tier.
But now, even his film weakness seems to be getting patched up.
And film, after all, is one of the easiest ways to break into the mainstream. Now, there’s already discussion online whether Wu Mu might beco a national icon... Things look grim, and if this continues, Wu Mu might just pull way ahead of them again.
Zhou Yu knew this too and was frustrated, but there wasn’t much he could do but to reluctantly comfort himself, "It’s just an opening of 80 million, still far from my 2 billion total earnings. Even if he surpasses a bit, in films, he’s still below ."
The agent didn’t reply; a normal film and an art film, are they the sa?
...
Indeed, they’re not the sa at all. Art films have a smaller audience, lower investnt, and any box office can easily break even.
For instance, for "Separation," Lin Qingyue’s total production and marketing cost was just a little over 20 million, and the first day’s box office alone was enough for them to break even, not counting overseas rights and revenue shares.
The industry and online hotspots were all focused on Wu Mu’s new film.
The first day was 80 million, the second day was 86 million, not only didn’t drop but even rose against odds due to more screenings.
The third day brought 79 million, the fourth day 72 million...
One can only say Wu Mu is indeed a hot topic now; Cannes Best Actor brings imnse publicity, coupled with his 92-point looks fitting well with romance art films, and his "hack-level" acting...
It’s like the marketing aspect was maxed out.
This film didn’t even use a Performance Card, yet the box office soared all the way up.
In the first five days alone, it raked in over 300 million due to imnse buzz, only slowing down by the sixth day.
Various software quickly projected the total box office based on the first week’s earnings, estimating the film could gross over 700 million.
million and more might not seem impressive compared to serious comrcial films, which have long entered the era of 5 billion box offices, with only those above 5 billion considered top-tier.
But Wu Mu’s is not a comrcial film.
Over 700 million for an art film is a godlike figure.
Just look at Shu i’s tone when she called Wu Mu to understand.
"Wow, brother, we’ve gone viral again!"
Shu i’s tone was so enthusiastic and excited it was almost piercing through the phone.
Wu Mu found it amusing, "I thought you could hold back and not ntion it."
From the New Year’s Eve event to after the film’s release, Shu i hadn’t ntioned the film, acting as if she’d forgotten about it.
He thought she might actually hold out until the film went off theaters without ntioning it, but didn’t expect her to give in.
A thrilled Shu i was montarily staggered. The reason she hadn’t brought up the movie was naturally because the film was deeply tied to Lin Qingyue, and her brother had broken up with Lin Qingyue.
But seeing how her brother was, it seed her worries were unnecessary; he was not dwelling on this matter.
Shu i muttered to herself as if she hadn’t heard, just continuing in excitent, "Brother, Maoyan’s box office prediction updated! They estimate our final box office to be 730 million!"
Wu Mu nodded, "Not bad."
"It’s not just ’not bad’!"
Shu i’s tone was thrilled, "It’s incredible, isn’t it!"
Over 700 million box office, in the landscape of current comrcial films, isn’t particularly outstanding since today’s comrcial film market has entered the 5-billion era, where only movies with over 5 billion in box office can be considered top-tier.
But Wu Mu’s isn’t a comrcial film.
A 700 million box office, in an art film category, is truly remarkable.
If nothing else, just look at the industry stats for art film box offices and you’ll understand. In the past decade, among all dostic art films that participated in A-category film festival competitions, the highest box office was 750 million.
That’s right, Wu Mu’s film is already competing for the top art film box office in the last decade.
"Although as an art film, it cannot match the box office of comrcial films, in so ways, it’s precisely because it’s an art film that can prove brother’s greatness! Anyone would think, if brother can pull the box office even for art films with such a niche audience, what could he do with a comrcial film!"
A high box office is just a manifestation; her brother doesn’t have a share in this film, so Shu i was happiest seeing the film demonstrate her brother’s ability and elevate his status.
But just as she was overjoyed, she heard her brother’s gentle voice, "700 million? That might not be all."
Shu i was montarily stunned, not quite understanding.
Wu Mu smiled, "I haven’t even started promoting yet. I promised her before that when her new film was released, I’d help promote it more."
Huh?
Shu i was even more puzzled. Her brother hasn’t promoted it yet?
Indeed, her brother was absent throughout the film’s promotion. If he were willing to participate in roadshows, the box office could definitely go higher... but how much higher?
And promoting at this ti... isn’t it too late?
Shu i was caught in confusion.
But Wu Mu was already looking at the remaining prop cards on his system panel.
[Performance Card (10 million) X11, Profit Card (100 million) x2]
Performance Cards, 2 Profit Cards, quite plentiful.
His so-called promotion was naturally using the prop cards for promotion.
Back at Cannes, he promised Lin Qingyue that when her film ca out, he would help "promote" it.
Even though they had broken up now, he still wasn’t planning to go back on his word.
It’s just... Lin Qingyue’s company was partly owned by her dad, so helping Lin Qingyue promote also ant helping Lin Xueming make money?
Thinking of this, Wu Mu felt a little cheated.
But that’s okay, he was never soone who internalized too much. If there was sothing on his mind, he’d express it directly.
After pondering for a little while, Wu Mu flipped out Yan Yongi’s number and dialed it through.
"Sister Yan, do you need to help with additional promotion for your movie’s release? I can offer a discounted guest appearance rate now."
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