February 14, 2023 | Total Issue 3147
Since the Spring Festival file opened on January 22, 2023, the film market has been full of good news. The achievement of good results such as the second highest box office in the history of the Spring Festival file and the fastest annual box office history exceeding 10 billion yuan, let people see the steady recovery of the mainland film market. Film and television companies are very confident, and they have recently announced the final file information.
Film and television monologue summarizes many domestic new films that have been set or have a high probability of meeting the audience in 2023, and found a seed player with the best chance of becoming a hit of the year among the seven mainstream tracks.
The director catches the eye-catching track
As the saying goes, "dramas look at actors, dramas look at screenwriters, and movies look at directors". This year, there are many domestic films that are eye-catching enough with the director's name alone.
There are famous directors of new works, such as Chen Kaige's "Great Victory" and Ning Hao's "Mr. Red Carpet"; There are transformational works, such as Dapeng's "Keep You Safe" and Wang Baoqiang's "In the Octagon Cage"; There are famous works, such as Xin Yukun's "Hot Search" and Zhang Yimou's daughter Zhang Mo's "Saving the Suspect"; There are also debut films that attract attention to newcomers, such as Zeng Hairuo's first feature film "Escape from Youth", the documentary she directed has scored more than 9 points on Douban, and Ma Kai's theatrical debut "Great Night", he once shot "Zhongxie" at a cost of 70,000 yuan.
In this strong track, this year's explosive seed player is "Rock Solid" directed by Zhang Yimou.
Since Zhang Yimou and screenwriter Chen Yu formed a partnership, the film's box office competitiveness has reached another level. The problem of "strong image and weak text" has been effectively alleviated in "Sniper" and "Manjiang Red".
In fact, "Rock Solid" is the first cooperation between Zhang Yimou and Chen Yu. The film was shot in 2019 and was originally titled Black Hole. Su Jianming (played by Lei Jiayin), an ordinary policeman working in the Criminal Appraisal Center of the Municipal Bureau, began a thrilling investigation journey in order to protect the safety of the people.
The film is not only Zhang Yimou's return to realistic themes, but also his first time directing an anti-corruption hardcore police film.
With the anti-gang crime and evil eradication as the background, Chongqing was chosen as the filming location, and the "Central Inspection Group" and other information were mentioned, which made the scale of the film very sultry and made the road to release full of bumps. Now that "Manjiang Hong" is selling well, Zhang Yimou's personal brand appeal has reached a new high; "Crazy" ended with a high fever, and the theme of sweeping black has once again become a hilarious point for the whole people. If "Solid as a Rock" can really be released in 2023 as stated in its patch trailer, it has a good chance to hit the box office high.
The actors are eye-catching tracks
Whether the leading actor on the poster knows is a decisive factor for ordinary audiences to buy tickets. Therefore, having an eye-catching cast is the most direct selling weapon.
In the new domestic films in 2023, there is no lack of eye-catching starring collocations, such as Jackie Chan + Guo Qilin in "The Spirit of Dragon Horse", Liang Jiahui + Yu Qian in "Old Rivers and Lakes", Huang Bo + Wang Yibo in "Warm", Andy Lau + Peng Yuyan in "Sneak", Jacky Cheung + Nicholas Tse in "Customs Front", etc.
In this star-studded track, this year's explosive seed player is "Disappearing Her" starring Zhu Yilong.
This film has nothing to do with the American film "Gone Girl" directed by David Fincher, but is adapted from the former Soviet film "The Trap for the Bachelor". At present, it has been officially announced that it will be scheduled for June 22.
A common feature of starring Zhu Yilong, Ni Ni, Wen Yongshan and Du Jiang is "photogenic" - big-screen works can show a more charming temperament and perform more explosive emotions. Especially Zhu Yilong, after the release of last year's screen debut "Life Events", the box office and awards were both harvested, which can be described as the limelight.
"Disappearing Her" is produced by Chen Sicheng, the story involves husband and wife relationships, travel disappearances, mysterious characters, legal relationships, etc., providing a wide space for the main actors to release their acting skills. After the film held its first viewing event as a closing film at the 4th Hainan Island International Film Festival, it won several hot searches on multiple platforms in one day. The multiple reversals of the plot and the crazy drama of the actors were praised by the first audience.
Type: eye-catching track
In recent years, the trend of domestic commercial film typology has become more and more obvious. In particular, several Hong Kong directors have a wealth of experience that gives them an advantage in this track.
New films expected to be released in 2023, such as the comedy "Poisonous Tongue Lawyer", the action film "Operation Moscow", the disaster film "Crisis Route", the suspense film "Prosecutor Storm", the crime film "Broken Network", and the business war film "Operation Fox Hunt", are constantly expanding the boundaries of domestic film genre.
In this colorful track, this year's blockbuster seed player is "Goldfinger" directed by Zhuang Wenqiang.
The industry generally attributed the failure of "When the Wind Rises" at the mainland box office to its failure to meet the audience's expectations for "Hong Kong films". Since many classic genre films have been born, mainland audiences have certain elements of expectations for Hong Kong films. If the elements are missing, it is unpleasant to watch; The more elements, the cooler it looks.
Zhuang Wenqiang's "Goldfinger", like his previous work "Matchless", which won 1.273 billion box office, is the culmination of the blockbuster elements of Hong Kong films. The story is inspired by the "Jianing Murder Case", one of the ten strange cases in Hong Kong. The case spanned the 80s and 90s, involving $6.6 billion and litigation costs of over $200 million, making it the largest and most complex commercial fraud and corruption case in Hong Kong's history.
The turbulence of high society, the fog of several murders, the shady scenes of Hong Kong's business circle during the British colonial era, and the indispensable action scenes and big scenes at the cost of 350 million Hong Kong dollars are all elements of Hong Kong films that the audience wants to see the most.
This film is not only the second cooperation between Tony Leung and Andy Lau after 18 years after the "Infernal Affairs" series, but also the first time that the three major actors Tony Leung, Andy Lau and Yam Dahua are in the same frame on the screen. The highlights inside and outside the play are full.
Adaptation/remake/spin-off track
The adaptation, remake and derivation of existing IP can effectively solve the lack of originality of the script. However, the risk is also very large, and the original IP fans may be transformed into "tap water" or "life black".
It is expected to meet the audience this year with "Love is Delicious" derived from the TV series of the same name, "The Hedgehog" adapted from the Northeast novelist Zheng Zhi's short story "Immortal Disease", "Heavenly Star Art" adapted from "Ghost Blowing Lamp", "Assassination Storm" adapted from Zhou Haohui's novel "Death Notice - The Darker", "Priceless Treasure" remade from the Korean movie "Guarantee", and "Cloister Pavilion" adapted from Keigo Higashino's novel "Cloister Pavilion Murder".
In this track of good fortune and misfortune, this year's explosive seed contestant is "I Love You!" adapted from the work of the same name by famous Korean webcomic artist Jiang Cao! 》。
South Korea filmed a version of "I Love You" in 2011, with a Douban score of 9.0 and more than 160,000 scorers. The Chinese version of I Love You! is not a remake of the film, but an adaptation of the original comic.
The empty nest old man often fights (played by Ni Dahong) and the lonely old lady Li Huiru (played by Hui Yinghong), who picks up waste products, and gradually develops feelings for each other; The elderly Xie Dingshan (played by Leung Ka Fai) and the deeply troubled Zhao Huanxin (played by Ye Tong) and his wife make a living by collecting and selling waste products.
As can be seen from the synopsis, "I Love You! is an extremely tear-jerking film, and Han Yan is precisely the director who "makes the audience cry most willingly" at the moment. Whether it's "Get Out!" directed by him! Tumor Jun", "Send You a Little Red Flower", or the producer of "Life Events", are all "crying" out of the super high box office. This project fell into his hands and was highly adaptable.
Sequel track
Domestic films are not as prosperous as Hollywood in series development, and most of the cartoons that can really continue stably are cartoons such as "Bear Haunted".
There are not many sequels that can attract attention this year, one is "Predecessor 4: Marriage Young", and the other is "Faithful Love Without Words 2". In addition, Wang Xiaoshuai's "Homeland Trilogy" second "Fertile Soil", and Cao Baoping's "Burning Heart Trilogy" third "Wading Through the Sea of Anger".
Although this track seems to be weak, it hides a dark horse - "No One in Sight 2" from the online movie to the theater line.
In June 2022, "No One in Sight" starring "Net Big Brother" Xie Miao was launched in iQiyi Cloud Cinema, not only won the second annual box office of 29.62 million points, but also successfully broke the circle by word of mouth and regained the glory of martial arts.
Strike while the iron is hot. On January 13, 2023, Lianrui Pictures announced that the sequel "No One in Sight 2" will land in theaters this year. Semyon still plays the protagonist, blind knife catcher, blind. Child star Yang En, who became popular because of "Life Events", has newly joined, playing Zhang Xiaoyu, an orphan who is bent on revenge.
The core team composed of chief producer Wei Junzi, screenwriter and director Yang Bingjia, and action director Qin Pengfei are all retained. The characters of the film continue the previous work, and the story opens a new chapter. If the reputation of the previous work can be continued and the gap of martial arts films in the market can be filled, this film is likely to create a box office miracle with a small broad.
Word-of-mouth fermentation track
For small-cost films that take the innovative route, participating in various film festivals to accumulate word-of-mouth, and then releasing them on the market after fermentation to a certain extent, can often reap unexpected box office results.
Due to the impact of the epidemic, most film festivals and festivals were forced to suspend last year, and the projects that have the opportunity to ferment word of mouth are extremely limited. Now it seems that there are two quite innovative films that have fermented considerable reputation.
The first is directed by Wei Shujun and participated in the Cannes International Film Festival and the Pingyao International Film Festival "Yong'an Town Story Collection" the year before. The humorous speech of the characters in the film and their reflections on the film industry are impressive. The other is "Space Exploration Editorial Department", directed by Kong Dashan and also made a stunning appearance at the Pingyao International Film Festival the year before.
In comparison, "Space Exploration Editorial Department" has a larger brain hole, more interesting, more strange form, and stronger entertainment, and also "rubs" the "science fiction fever" brought by "The Wandering Earth 2" and "The Three-Body Problem". The film tells the story of Tang Zhijun (played by Yang Haoyu), the editor-in-chief of the science fiction magazine "Space Exploration", who receives an abnormal signal suspected to come from the depths of the universe, so he gathers his companions who are also fallen to the end of the world, and embarks on a journey to find aliens with puzzled lifelong questions.
After the official announcement was scheduled for April Fool's Day release on April 1, the film entered a steady publicity stage. However, before the official release, it should be difficult for people to see its "true face". For such brain-opening movies, promotional materials are often "unusual".
Lifetime track
In addition to the regular track mentioned above, there is a very special track this year. The films on this track were once considered difficult to see in their lifetimes either because of the epidemic or because of the tightening censorship.
"Super Family", "Flame on the Plain", "King of the Long Sky", "Finding Qin", "Trident"... These works, which once disappeared after saying hello, ushered in a turnaround with the recovery of the market and the appointment of the new leadership of the Film Bureau.
Among them, the most gratifying thing for fans is that not long ago, a Weibo big V released news that the first part of the "Fengshen Trilogy" directed by Wu Ershan has been reviewed and is expected to be released this summer.
The first clue that netizens discovered was in the results of the 2023 mainland film quota lottery in Taiwan, China, and the last two parts of the trilogy appeared - "Battle of the Magic Road" and "Feng Shen Tianxia". Now, countless pairs of eyes are staring, to see if the "twenty-four solar terms blogger" who has been working for several years will be interrupted on the day of the rain, and the official announcement is disguised.
In five years, polishing the script, luxurious star lineup, running the "Fengshen Acting Training Camp", creating a hundred crafts, and three consecutive films, the total production cost reached 3 billion yuan of "terrifying".
"Fengshen Trilogy" made a shooting plan in 2012, reserved a production cycle of 8-10 years, then started development in 2014, entered preparations in 2016, made its debut in 2017, started in 2018, and began to release posters, trailers, behind-the-scenes documentaries and other materials in 2019, and the first "Demon Chaos National Death" in 2020 failed to land on the summer file as scheduled, and has been silent so far.
It can be seen that the preparation and production of "Fengshen Trilogy" are progressing in an orderly manner as planned, and the audience still maintains confidence and expectations for it. No matter which schedule it finally lands, the film will cause a box office shock.
After watching the seven blockbuster seeds on seven tracks, which one will be your first choice to contribute to the box office?
【Text/Full Hoard】