During this year’s Spring Festival, a total of 8 films will be released, including 3 cartoons and 5 live-action films. As of 18:00 on February 6, the pre-sale box office of new Spring Festival films totaled 284 million yuan, with " Fast Life 2", " Hot and Spicy " and "Article 20" occupying the top three spots on the list with absolute advantages. If nothing unexpected happens, these three works will also become the final winners of the 2024 Spring Festival.
Pre-sales affect film schedules, but the final say in the box office is in the hands of the audience who buy the tickets. In recent years, a "dark horse" counterattack appears during the Spring Festival almost every year. For example, in 2021, Jia Ling's directorial debut "Hello, Li Huanying" counterattacked the pre-sale box office champion "Detective Chinatown 3" in the middle of the schedule, in 2019 The science fiction film "The Wandering Earth" surpassed the popular "Crazy Alien", "Flying Life" and "The New King of Comedy" in the same period. The key factor behind the sudden changes in the Lunar New Year season is the reputation of the work after its official release.
This year’s Lunar New Year pre-sales officially started on February 1. In the following days, the top two in the pre-sale box office list basically rotated between Jia Ling’s “Hot and Spicy” and Han Han’s “Flying Life 2”. Zhang Yimou "Article 20" is firmly in the "third" position. As of 18:00 on February 6, the pre-sale box office of these three works was around 70 million yuan. "Bear Infested: Reverse Time and Space" produced in Guangdong, with a box office of nearly 40 million yuan, single-handedly supported the second echelon of Spring Festival pre-sales. Ning Hao's " Mr. Red Carpet " and Han Yan's "Let's Shake the Sun Together" belong to the third echelon, with pre-sale box office receipts approaching 20 million yuan each. The pre-sales box office of the remaining two cartoons, "Bajie: The Lower World of the Canopy" and "Huangpi: The God of Wealth Cat", are both below the 500,000 yuan level. It seems difficult to make a big splash during the Spring Festival.
There are six main films in three tiers, each with its own selling points in terms of subject matter and lineup. Pre-sales are only the first round of the competition. After the film is officially released on New Year's Day, the audience's response will become the key to affecting the box office trend. Several of the current films have created enough buzz, but when they are actually released, will the audience's expectations be met or disappointed? The answer lies with time.
Six major films, each with its own "gimmick"
"Flying Life 2"
Director: Han Han
Screenwriter: Han Han
Starring: Shen Teng, Fan Chengcheng, Yin Zheng, Zhang Benyu, Sun Yizhou
Plot: Former champion driver Zhang Chi (played by Shen Teng) He was reduced to a poor driving school instructor, living a life of relying on his reputation. Unexpectedly, pie in the sky falls, and the director of Laotoule Automobile Factory (played by Jia Bing), who is on the verge of suspending production, offers to sponsor Zhang Chi to form a team to compete in the last Bayinbrook Rally. Therefore, Zhang Chi summoned his old friends Sun Yuqiang (played by Yin Zheng) and Ji Xing (played by Zhang Benyu), as well as the talented driver Li Xiaohai (played by Fan Chengcheng) and the rookie driving school student Liu Xiande (played by Sun Yizhou) who always failed to pass Subject 2 to form a grassroots team. . This time, will he surpass the finish line that has appeared in his dreams countless times?
selling point: During the 2019 Spring Festival, "Flying Life" took in a box office of 1.728 billion yuan, a good performance. But Shen Teng is a familiar face in comedy films that everyone loves, and the inspirational topic of turning around is also very suitable for the Spring Festival. The rest depends on whether Han Han's directing skills have improved compared to 5 years ago.
"Hot and Spicy"
Director: Jia Ling
Screenwriter: Sun Jibin
Starring: Jia Ling, Lei Jiayin, Zhang Xiaofei, Yang Zi, Sha Yi
Plot: Le Ying (played by Jia Ling) has been at home for many years, doing nothing. After graduating from college and working for a while, she chose to withdraw from society. But after several "tricks" of fate, she decided to change her life. While cautiously contacting the outside world, Le Ying met boxing coach Hao Kun (played by Lei Jiayin). But when she thought her life was about to get on the right track, the tests that followed were far beyond her imagination...
Selling point: The biggest attraction of the film at present is of course Jia Ling's weight loss results. However, there are risks in using too many gimmicks. Some viewers have expressed fear that they will not be able to adapt to Jia Ling, who has lost 100 pounds. The future fate of "Hot and Spicy" still depends on word of mouth. After all, the box office miracle of "Hello, Li Huanying" relied on nothing else but the sincerity of its creator, Jia Ling.
"Article 20"
Director: Zhang Yimou
Screenwriter: Li Meng
Starring: Lei Jiayin, Ma Li, Zhao Liying, Gao Ye, Liu Yaowen
Plot: Since he was assigned to the Municipal Procuratorate, Han Ming (played by Lei Jiayin) has had bad things happen one after another. . His son Han Yuchen (played by Liu Yaowen) beat the son of the school leader (played by Zhang Yi) and refused to apologize. His wife Li Maojuan (played by Ma Li) was so indignant that she beat the school leader and succeeded; she had constant disagreements with her partner Lu Lingling (played by Gao Ye) , the case has been pending for a long time; in another case, Hao Xiuping (played by Zhao Liying) was forced into a desperate situation and was extremely critical. The battle between love and law is unfolding, and the balance between career and family is ongoing. Han Ming decides to risk everything and give fairness and justice his own way...
Selling point: Zhang Yimou has returned to realism-themed creations in recent years, both at the box office and in reputation. good. " Article 20 " is a comedy. Considering that his previous comedy "Man Jiang Hong" had a box office of 4.544 billion yuan, the quality of this new work is exciting.
"Bear Infested·Reverse Time and Space"
Director: Lin Huida
Screenwriters: Xu Yun, Wan Qin, Jiang Lin
Dubbing: Tan Xiao, Zhang Bingjun, Zhang Wei, Zhang Ming
Plot: Bald Qiang is an ordinary programmer. But I often dream of strange forests and two bears. It wasn't until he went to visit a big client with his boss that he finally remembered that he was once a little tour guide in the forest, and by chance he got a chance to choose his life again. In order to save Xiong Da Xiong Er in the old timeline, Bald Qiang embarks on a wonderful space-time adventure.
Selling Point: Is plot important? The important thing is that the Spring Festival is indispensable for family carnival, and the first choice for family carnival is "The Bear". Judging from this year's pre-sale results, the "unspoken rule" in the industry that has been circulated for many years is "a good Spring Festival stall, a solid "Bear Bear"".
"Mr. Red Carpet"
Director: Ning Hao
Screenwriters: Liu Xiaodan, Wang Ang
Starring: Andy Lau, Shan Liwen, Rima Xidan, Yu Weiguo, Ning Hao
Plot: Hong Kong superstar Liu Weichi (played by Andy Lau) has been in the movie for 40 years , has always longed for the Best Actor. He decided to collaborate with director Lin Hao (Ning Hao) on a rural-themed film, which earned him international fame at film festivals. To this end, Liu Weichi went deep into the countryside to experience life, personally solicited investment, and refused to use a substitute, but this triggered a series of ridiculous farces that made people laugh and cry.
Selling point: Andy Lau plays himself, which is attractive enough. If the movie could be bolder and reveal more insider information about the entertainment industry, the audience would be happier.
"Let's Shake the Sun Together"
Director: Han Yan
Screenwriter: Han Yan, Li Liangwen, Wang Xiaoai, Yang Fuzhi
Starring: Peng Yuchang, Li Gengxi, Xu Fan, Gao Yalin, Liu Dan
Plot: When "brainless" Lu Tu (played by Peng Yuchang) meets "unhappy" Ling Min (played by Li Gengxi). Due to the agreement of the "Relay of Life", two young people with serious illnesses but very different personalities embark on a journey full of love and joy by mistake. A healing journey of strength.
Selling point: This is the final chapter of Han Yan's "Life Trilogy", partly based on real events. Han Yan's past work "Get Out!" Tumor King" "Send you a little red flower" "I love you! 》The reputation is good, but can a slightly sad story attract Spring Festival audiences? It depends on whether the film is moving enough.
text｜Reporter Li Li
