In 2024, there will be a wave of hustle and bustle in the entertainment industry. Wang Baoqiang rose to prominence with "In the Octagon Cage", with a box office exceeding 1.6 billion, and once again became the focus of heated discussions among the audience. In stark contrast, Huang Bo, who used to have infinite scenery, is now difficult to find good results in his new work, and is labeled as an "outdated middle-aged man".
What's even more embarrassing is that the former comedy director Xu Zheng fell into the whirlpool of scandals, and his reputation plummeted. Who would have thought that the glory of "Thai Embarrassment" ten years ago would evolve into such a situation? What caused this dramatic reversal? Let's go back in time to 2012 to unveil this saga and explore the very different trajectories of three comedians.
In 2012, the Chinese film market ushered in an unprecedented shock. Directed by Xu Zheng and co-starring Wang Baoqiang and Huang Bo, "People Are Embarrassmented in Thailand" is like a bright meteor, cutting through the long-dormant sky of comedy movies.
This film not only created a miracle of the first box office exceeding 1 billion in the history of Chinese films, but also opened a new era of domestic comedy films. Looking back, Xu Zheng once revealed in an interview that the team's initial expectations for the film were quite conservative.
"We originally estimated that 300 million at the box office would be a good result," he said, with an incredible glint in his eyes. However, reality gave them a heavy blow: 500 million, 600 million, until it broke through the 1 billion mark, and the box office figures ran wild like wild horses, which everyone did not expect.
Wang Baoqiang also shared his feelings at that time in public: "Even though I am already a mature actor, and the cooperation with Xu Zheng has sparked one after another, I am still extremely surprised by this success."
His words showed a sense of cherishing the experience, as if returning to that exciting moment. The success of "Thai Embarrassment" is not only reflected in the box office figures, but more importantly, it has set a new benchmark for Chinese comedy films.
The film skillfully combines a humorous and witty plot with a warm portrayal of human nature, which not only makes the audience laugh, but also triggers deep emotional resonance. This kind of balanced control has become a model for many domestic comedies to emulate since then.
However, behind the brilliance there are also hidden worries. Just like the meaningful line that Xu Zheng said to Wang Baoqiang in the movie: "I have known you for less than 24 hours, I don't have any friendship, let alone friends, I came to Thailand for a contract of hundreds of millions, do you know?" There's no bullshit at all......" This dialogue seems to foreshadow their future trajectory, full of dramatic reversals.
At that time, they were immersed in the joy of success, how could they have predicted the world of difference ten years later? The brilliance of "Thai Embarrassment" has become the pinnacle of the joint creation of these three comedians, and it has also become a watershed in their future path.
This unexpected victory was both a starting point and a turning point in their respective destinies. The unprecedented success of "Thai Embarrassment" seems to have opened a door to new heights in the entertainment industry for Xu Zheng, Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang.
However, in the preparation process of "Hong Kong", the differences between the three gradually emerged, which also indicated that they were about to embark on completely different paths. Xu Zheng chose to open up new fields.
No longer satisfied with mere comedy, he began to inject more elements into his works. In 2014, Xu Zheng launched "Master of Hypnosis", a work that combines suspense and shows his new exploration of the film genre.
The film's ingenious ending design makes the audience addicted, and it also proves that Xu Zheng is not just a comedy director. In 2018, he brought "I Am Not the God of Medicine", which was not only a box office success, but also sparked a wide discussion in society about health care reform.
Xu Zheng seems to have found a balance between ideal and reality, which not only meets the expectations of the audience, but also realizes his own artistic pursuit. However, attempts at diversification are not always recognized.
In 2022, Xu Zheng and Shen Teng's "Crazy Alien" failed to regain its former glory, and both the box office and word of mouth declined. What's worse is that the peach scandals that broke out one after another have greatly reduced Xu Zheng's public image.
was once a master of comedy, but now he has become a controversial "utilitarian" director in the eyes of the audience. In contrast, Huang Bo's development trajectory is more undulating. The success of "Thai Embarrassment" gave him a taste of sweetness, and it became a "box office guarantee" for a while.
From "Journey to the West" directed by Stephen Chow to "The 101st Marriage Proposal" with Shu Qi, Huang Bo seems to be omnipotent, and all types of roles can be controlled easily. However, in the shadow of success, Huang Bo gradually fell into a fixed mode of performance.
What was once a refreshing style of performance has become more and more monotonous in one work after another. Huang Bo's plight has become more and more obvious in recent years. Once upon a time, "Huang Bo's box office surpassed you" could also become a weapon to ridicule Shen Teng in variety shows.
Now, even the new generation of actors such as Jia Ling and Zhu Yilong can compete with him at the box office. Huang Bo seems to be lost in the pursuit of the box office, ignoring the depth shaping of the character itself.
Wang Baoqiang's road is particularly bumpy. was replaced by "Baby Becomes Baby" in "Hong Kong Embarrassment", and suffered huge changes in his private life, which once brought his career to a low point.
However, Wang Baoqiang chose to work silently and devote his attention to his acting career. Even when thousands of netizens criticized his ex-wife, he never made any inappropriate remarks publicly, showing extraordinary professionalism and personal accomplishment.
This kind of humility and persistence has become Wang Baoqiang's most powerful weapon. Instead of being distracted by the hustle and bustle of the outside world, he focused on improving his acting skills and looking for more challenging roles.
This dedication laid the groundwork for his future transformation and breakthrough. The choice of the three seems to foreshadow their future fate. Xu Zheng sought a balance between business and art, Huang Bo fell into the whirlpool of fame and fortune, while Wang Baoqiang chose to work silently and stick to his heart.
This silent contest is not only the story of three people, but also reflects the changes and challenges of the entire entertainment industry. 2020 was a watershed year for Xu Zheng, Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang, as well as a pivotal moment for them to balance business and art.
Xu Zheng made a decision that shocked the industry for the release of "Embarrassing Mother": to send the movie to the online platform. This move seems to be understandable in the special period of the epidemic, but it has aroused strong dissatisfaction among the cinema chain.
When Xu Zheng was interviewed, his tone was full of helplessness: "In this special situation, we have to make a difficult choice. However, this decision cost him the trust of many long-time partners and made the audience question his business orientation.
The former gold medal director now has to face the dual pressure of word-of-mouth and business, and is walking on a difficult balance beam. Huang Bo's predicament is even more obvious. The aura of the former "box office guarantee" gradually faded, and the rise of the new generation of actors made him a little powerless in the competition.
In an in-depth interview, Huang Bo rarely revealed confusion: "I am also constantly learning, thinking about how to keep up with the pace of the times while maintaining myself.
However, the audience seems to have grown tired of his inherent mode of acting. Huang Bo, who used to be dominant, is now gradually declining in the box office list, and has even been surpassed by some new actors, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to him.
In contrast, Wang Baoqiang's turn of events is more dramatic. Although his self-directed and self-starred debut film "Havoc in Tianzhu" achieved good results at the box office, the quality of the film was controversial, and finally won the "honor" of the Golden Broom Award.
To everyone's surprise, Wang Baoqiang not only did not evade, but appeared in person to receive the award. At the award ceremony, his speech was unpretentious: "I will listen carefully to the opinions of every audience member and strive to make my work better."
This sincerity and introspection has made many people re-examine this simple man. Wang Baoqiang's actions show the attitude that an actor should have in the face of failure.
Rather than being knocked down by temporary setbacks, he saw them as an opportunity to learn and improve. This spirit of positive criticism and continuous self-improvement planted the seeds for his future success.
The choice of the three seems to be a game between business and art. Xu Zheng can sacrifice part of his reputation for commercial interests, Huang Bo lost himself on the road to the pursuit of box office, and Wang Baoqiang chose to face failure sincerely and keep learning and improving.
This year's choice may have laid the foundation for their future development direction. In this ever-changing entertainment industry, how to find a balance between commercial success and artistic pursuit has become a difficult problem that every actor and director must face.
The different choices of Xu Zheng, Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang not only reflect their personal value orientation, but also reflect the changes and challenges of the entire industry. This silent contest is far from over, but the beginning of a new chapter in their careers.
In 2024, Wang Baoqiang will return to the big screen with "In the Octagon Cage", which is not only a turning point in his acting career, but also a big surprise in the Chinese film market.
The film changed Wang Baoqiang's past comedy style and focused on the living conditions of the people at the bottom, but it unexpectedly received a warm response from the audience. "In the Octagon Cage" tells the story of a group of young people from the mountains who devote themselves to combat sports in order to change their fate.
Wang Baoqiang's role in the film seems to be a projection of his youth, the boy who once practiced martial arts in Shaolin Temple, and now tells the world the hardships and dreams of the people at the bottom through the screen.
His performance is unpretentious, but every word pierces the heart, making the audience feel the truth and power of the character. At the premiere, Wang Baoqiang said frankly: "I don't want to rely on Xiao Xianrou to attract audiences, I just want to tell a true story."
This persistence finally brought a double harvest of box office and word-of-mouth. The box office result of 1.6 billion proves the audience's desire and recognition for sincere works. The success of the film lies not only in its touching on social hotspots, but also in Wang Baoqiang's deep understanding and interpretation of the role.
He incorporates his own upbringing into the performance, giving the character a unique charm. What the audience sees on the screen is not only a fictional character, but also a reflection of Wang Baoqiang's own life process.
The choice of subject matter in "In the Octagon Cage" is also quite adventurous. In the current market environment where comedy and romance films are prevalent, Wang Baoqiang chose a relatively niche theme, but it successfully resonated widely.
The film truly shows the survival plight and fighting spirit of the people at the bottom, allowing the audience to see the hope and strength of beyond. At the same time, the new work of the former comedy partner Huang Bo is difficult to compete with the label of "outdated middle-aged man".
Even if the young idol Wang Yibo was invited to cooperate, the audience's response was still mediocre. And Xu Zheng is entangled in controversy in his private life, and the launch of his new work is not satisfactory. The situation of the three of them is like a world apart.
Who would have thought that the supporting role in "Thai Embarrassment" ten years ago would now become a box office leader? Wang Baoqiang's success is not only a personal victory, but also a baptism for the entire film industry.
It proves that as long as you stick to your original intention and tell every story with your heart, you will eventually win the recognition and respect of the audience. The success of "In the Octagon Cage" has opened a new page for Wang Baoqiang's acting career, and has also injected a fresh force into the Chinese film market.
Time flies, and the glory of "Thai Embarrassment" is a thing of the past ten years ago. The fate of Xu Zheng, Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang, the three main creators, can't help but make people feel emotional, and it also sounded the alarm for the entire entertainment industry.
Xu Zheng's "utilitarian" route, although it brought commercial success in the short term, also made him gradually lose the trust of the audience. Frequent scandals and controversies have cast a shadow over his once golden signboard.
Huang Bo's pursuit of "fame and fortune" made him lose himself in the ups and downs of the box office, and the former "box office guarantee" is now difficult to find the style of the past. In contrast, Wang Baoqiang's "powerful faction" insisted, through continuous self-improvement and breakthroughs, and finally reaped the second spring of his career ten years later.
The success of "In the Octagon Cage" is not only an affirmation of Wang Baoqiang personally, but also a baptism for the entire industry. It proves that in this ever-changing entertainment industry, only by sticking to the original intention and constantly innovating can we go further and more steadily.
As Wang Baoqiang said at the premiere of "In the Octagon Cage": "Every step we take should be down-to-earth in the hearts of the audience." This respect for the audience and dedication to the work may be the attitude that comedians, and indeed all entertainers, should uphold.
The story of the triumvirate of "Thai Embarrassment" will eventually become an eternal legend and warning for this industry. It tells us that while chasing fame and fortune, we should not forget our original intention; On the balance between business and art, we must learn to weigh and make trade-offs.
Only in this way can we write our own wonderful chapter on this stage full of opportunities and challenges.