"Does that mean you can't make money if you don't release it in the United States?"
James Cameron asked rhetorically.
His confidence came from two things.
First, he had faith in the quality of his films.
He had painstakingly refined the script, having the screenwriter revise it thirteen times before making five more rounds of edits himself.
On set, he was extremely demanding about the costumes, makeup, props, and performances. He had no idea how many times the actors and crew had been reduced to tears by his scolding.
He was just as demanding about post-production.
He scrutinized every strand of hair and every leaf in the special effects, making sure the audience had the most realistic experience possible.
It was precisely because of his exacting standards that he had such confidence.
He was sure his film would earn plenty at the box office no matter which country it was released in.
Second, Wang Yi had hundreds of millions of fans around the world.
The United States accounted for only about two percent of them.
With hundreds of millions of Wang Yi's fans on their side, why worry that no one would watch the film?
Most importantly, Wang Yi was Chinese, and behind him stood the enormous China market.
As long as they released his film in the China market, it wouldn't just do well at the box office—it would be a massive hit.
Sony executive Michael Linton was no longer as anxious as before. He asked, "Arthur's biopic made thirty million dollars on its first day in theaters, making it the biggest hit in the United States this year. How much do you think Space Jam 3 will make?"
James Cameron thought for a moment, then held up one finger.
Sony executive Michael Linton asked, "One hundred million dollars?"