314. Delayed Release
Thomas Lee gasped when he saw the giant wolf burst out of the frame.
But soon, the giant wolf disappeared, and everything returned to normal. The colorful advertisements brought Times Square back to its bustling state.
Special effects?
Thomas Lee realized that this must be a screen effect, augmented reality, or glasses-free 3D application that allows people to see a three-dimensional effect on a flat screen.
However, such applications are still relatively rare, and they require a certain level of coordination. The best effect is achieved when everyone's attention is drawn to the playback, as shown in the example above.
Unexpectedly, Lu Ban actually went all out.
Thomas Lee could hardly believe it.
However, he didn't make any absolute statements. He was well aware that whether "The Demon Tide" could really reach a box office of two billion dollars would largely depend on the North American reviews of "The Cry" and "The Mouth of the Madman".
Of course, Thomas Lee and AMC Theaters did not take any measures such as suppressing Lu Ban, banning his movies from being shown, or putting them in unpopular times. No theater chain would turn down money.
September arrived quickly, and The Cry was officially released in North America.
Although the film had already been leaked on the internet and other channels before, many people were still waiting to watch it in theaters.
The Crying movie did quite well at the North American box office, reaching nearly three million dollars on its opening day. Although it can't compare to those blockbusters, it's quite remarkable for a niche horror thriller film, especially considering it's a foreign movie.
Ultimately, The Cry grossed $40 million in North America after a month of release. In fact, during its first week of release, The Cry's box office continued to grow, with each day's box office exceeding the previous day's.
This was thanks to word-of-mouth and its spread among young people. Young people who love novelty and excitement flocked to this type of movie. Soon, Lu Ban's name became a household name on high school and college campuses, and many people even started searching online for his previous online movies and videos.
In October, coinciding with the long holiday in China, "The Mouth of the Madman" was released in North America. With the groundwork laid earlier, the film grossed more than five million dollars on its opening day and reached a record-breaking box office of ninety-eight million dollars during its one-month run.
This is the highest-grossing domestic horror/thriller film overseas, making it one of the top three highest-grossing Chinese films abroad.
Discussions about Lu Ban and the two films, as well as "The Demon Tide" which was promoted in Times Square, are intensifying on well-known overseas film forums.
[This is the real horror movie, bro. Don't laugh, but after watching "The Crying Cry," I was too scared to sleep with the lights off for several nights. This stuff is just too intense!]
[I'm very grateful to director Lu Ban. After watching "The Mouth of the Madman," I went to the Library, borrowed a copy of "A Brief History of Time," and finished reading it. Before that, I would fall asleep after just three minutes of reading a textbook!]
Have you seen the trailer for "The Demon Tide"? This movie seems completely different in style from the previous two. I'm getting more and more excited for it. How can I fast-forward to Christmas? I can't wait any longer!
[It's a strange feeling. The Chinese-language films I've seen before are mostly about Kung Fu flying around in ancient costumes, but these two films feel very modern to me. I never imagined that this country could make such interesting modern films. I think I should go find some other movies to watch.]
Firstly, I've seen Lu Ban's two previous films. Secondly, as a complete casual viewer, I'm not optimistic about "The Tide of Demon Tide" because he's a director who specializes in horror and thriller films, while his new film is clearly a war film. I doubt whether he can present such a grand story.
[You guys are exaggerating! Although I haven't seen either of these movies in theaters, based on the trailer for "The Demon Tide," I don't think it'll be anything special. Are you all paid shills for the theaters? Here's your contact information; let's all make money together!]
As an industry insider, Thomas Lee, seeing the phenomenal success of Lu Ban's two films, began to have some doubts.
Could Lu Ban's "Demon Tide" really reach a box office of two billion US dollars?
Just as he was feeling a little uneasy, a piece of news suddenly came from the media.
"Speed of Light 11" will be postponed from its original Thanksgiving release to the Christmas release, where it will face off against "The Demon Tide".
"Speed of Light 11" is an action crime film known for its urban racing scenes and explosive action sequences. With the success of the previous installments, the production costs have increased, and the latest one even takes the cars to space.
Although the protagonist's motivation is always for his family, and his family members die and come back to life repeatedly, drawing criticism, and his increasingly outrageous driving skills are also criticized, this kind of popcorn blockbuster is actually the mainstream in the European and American markets. As long as the audience enjoys the movie in the theater, that's enough, and logic doesn't need to be taken too seriously.
When Thomas Lee saw this news, his first reaction was, "Speed of Light 11" is going to clash with "The Demon Tide"!!!
The box office appeal of "Speed of Light 11" is undeniable. After all, the series has grossed over a billion dollars before, and even though the box office has dropped significantly since then, it is still guaranteed to gross over five hundred million dollars. Moreover, this movie is the final installment of the series, marking the official end of this decade-long franchise. It deserves special attention from both a moral and logical standpoint.
Moreover, this year's Christmas season also includes films by some well-known directors. The postponement of "Speed of Light 11" has made the already tight schedule even more congested.
According to Thomas Lee, his company provided "The Tide of Demon Tide" with 10% of the screenings on its opening day, which is quite good for an imported film. "Speed of Light 11" originally had more than 30% of the screenings on its opening day during Thanksgiving, but now that it has been postponed to Christmas, the screenings for "The Demon Tide" will probably be compressed to the extreme.
Even though his boss, Leike, had seen the movie and thought "The Demon Tide" had great potential, theater executives also valued the box office appeal of a well-known sequel. On one hand, it was a sure thing to make money, and on the other hand, it was an unknown. Those shareholders who valued their money more than their lives would definitely prefer a more conservative strategy.
Meanwhile, online speculation has emerged that the delay of "Speed of Light 11" was a deliberate attempt to counter "The Demon Tide," suggesting that the two films represent the film production standards of their respective countries and are going to have a fierce battle during the Christmas season, a time for family reunions.
On the internet, fans held differing opinions and argued endlessly, while Lu Ban, who was at the center of the controversy, happened to be attending the Yannan University Student Film Festival in November.