Andy Lau's Film 'The Movie Emperor' Exits Chinese New Year Festival After Disappointing Box Office
In a surprising turn of events, the Chinese film "The Movie Emperor" starring Hong Kong superstar and actor Liu Dehua, known professionally as Andy Lau, has exited the Chinese New Year's film festival season after a lackluster box office performance. The film, which bears the English title "The Red Carpet," managed to rake in a disappointing 80 million yuan ($11.5 million) in its first week, prompting its producers to pull it from the lucrative Lunar New Year festive season.
17 February 2024
The decision to exit the festival season came as several other Chinese films also withdrew their participation, notably "We Are All Hokum: In League with the Sun," "Yellow Weasel: The God of Fortune Cat," and "Monkey King: Under the Lotus." "We Are All Hokum: In League with the Sun," starring mainland Chinese actor Zhang Yi, announced its withdrawal on February 14, revealing that it would push back its release to March 30.
Surprisingly, the exit of "The Movie Emperor" from the Chinese New Year's film festival season has created a wave of support for Lau from fans, who argue that the film's low box office performance should not be blamed on the actor, but on the limited screening times for the film. This was compounded by the fact that the film had only a 62% screening utilization rate, with most screenings taking place in the early morning or late at night, making it difficult for fans to watch the film.
Despite these challenges, some fans expressed their unwavering support for Lau, stating that they still believe in his ability to bring wonderful films to life. "I think the film is quite selective of its audience," a fan wrote on Weibo, adding that they would continue to support Lau and were looking forward to seeing him in future films.
Film distributors and theaters have been criticized for the limited screening times of "The Movie Emperor," with some accusing them of not respecting the cinema experience. "The cinema has lost its screening authority," a film enthusiast wrote on Weibo, adding that the lack of control over screening times is tantamount to disrespecting the industry.
"The Movie Emperor" was directed by Ning Hao and tells the story of a washed-up actor who is given a new lease on life when he is cast in a legendary film. The film, which was released on February 10, received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its performances and cinematography, while others criticized its screenplay and overall message.
The withdrawal of "The Movie Emperor" from the Chinese New Year's film festival season highlights the fierce competition that exists within the Chinese film industry, as well as the importance of screening times and film distribution strategies. It remains to be seen how this will affect Lau's career moving forward, but fans are already rallying behind him, eager to see him return to the silver screen in a new and exciting role.
As the Chinese New Year festivities come to an end, the film industry will undoubtedly be looking to learn valuable lessons from the successes and failures of this year's crop of films. The challenges faced by "The Movie Emperor" serve as a reminder of the importance of marketing and distribution strategies, and how they can make or break a film's success in the box office. It is a lesson that the industry will undoubtedly take to heart as it moves forward into the future.
In conclusion, the Chinese film "The Movie Emperor" has become the latest high-profile casualty of the Chinese New Year's film festival season, joining several other films in exiting the festive period after disappointing box office performances. Despite the film's lukewarm reception, fans continue to express their support for Lau, eager to see him return to the screen in a new role. The film's withdrawal from the Chinese New Year's film festival season highlights the fierce competition that exists within the industry, as well as the importance of marketing and distribution strategies in ensuring a film's success. As the industry looks to the future, it is clear that there are valuable lessons to be learned from this year's crop of films, including the importance of screening times, distribution strategies, and marketing campaigns.