'The Great Wall': Why the Stakes Are Sky-High for Matt Damon's $150M Chinese Epic
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Hamartia Antidote
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120 million usd already!
I think it is not going to get much more as it has already been pushed out of theater screens for newer movies. Probably will end with just under $150M. Certainly a disappointment as it probably will not break even with just its production costs $150M (nevermind other costs like advertising)
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shadows888
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That's only china tho, will see when it gets released global.
Daniel808
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"The Great Wall" continues to lead Chinese box office
2016-12-28 20:00:50 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhang Xu
"The Great Wall," an epic action-adventure film directed by Zhang Yimou, continued to rule the Chinese box office in the week ending Dec. 25, China Film News reported Wednesday.
The movie, featuring Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and many Chinese stars, earned 361 million yuan (51.9 million U.S.dollars) during the week, and its total revenue has reached 832 million yuan since its release on Dec. 16.
Domestic romance "See You Tomorrow" landed in second place for the week, earning 280 million yuan after its debut on Dec. 23.
"Railroad Tigers," a domestic comedy featuring Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, placed third, taking in 216 million yuan since its release on Dec. 23.
Mel Gibson's war film "Hacksaw Ridge" ranked fourth with a revenue of 70 million yuan.
Rounding out the top five was domestic suspense movie "The Wasted Times," which took 39 million yuan.
http://english.cri.cn/12394/2016/12/28/2021s948427.htm
2016-12-28 20:00:50 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhang Xu
"The Great Wall," an epic action-adventure film directed by Zhang Yimou, continued to rule the Chinese box office in the week ending Dec. 25, China Film News reported Wednesday.
The movie, featuring Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and many Chinese stars, earned 361 million yuan (51.9 million U.S.dollars) during the week, and its total revenue has reached 832 million yuan since its release on Dec. 16.
Domestic romance "See You Tomorrow" landed in second place for the week, earning 280 million yuan after its debut on Dec. 23.
"Railroad Tigers," a domestic comedy featuring Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, placed third, taking in 216 million yuan since its release on Dec. 23.
Mel Gibson's war film "Hacksaw Ridge" ranked fourth with a revenue of 70 million yuan.
Rounding out the top five was domestic suspense movie "The Wasted Times," which took 39 million yuan.
http://english.cri.cn/12394/2016/12/28/2021s948427.htm
Hamartia Antidote
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"The Great Wall" continues to lead Chinese box office
2016-12-28 20:00:50 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhang Xu
"The Great Wall," an epic action-adventure film directed by Zhang Yimou, continued to rule the Chinese box office in the week ending Dec. 25, China Film News reported Wednesday.
The movie, featuring Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and many Chinese stars, earned 361 million yuan (51.9 million U.S.dollars) during the week, and its total revenue has reached 832 million yuan since its release on Dec. 16.
Domestic romance "See You Tomorrow" landed in second place for the week, earning 280 million yuan after its debut on Dec. 23.
"Railroad Tigers," a domestic comedy featuring Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, placed third, taking in 216 million yuan since its release on Dec. 23.
Mel Gibson's war film "Hacksaw Ridge" ranked fourth with a revenue of 70 million yuan.
Rounding out the top five was domestic suspense movie "The Wasted Times," which took 39 million yuan.
http://english.cri.cn/12394/2016/12/28/2021s948427.htm
In the next few days you will be reading how "See you Tomorrow" is #1 for this week and "Railroad Tigers" is #2.
Although "See you Tomorrow" seems to have worse ratings..so maybe The Great Wall will jump back next week. "Railroad Tigers" seems to have the best ratings.
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shadows888
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we are going to hold your feet to the fire then.
+4vsgorillas-Apebane
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They could have made an imjin war movie and the white guy presence will be more than plausible. Not as a main of course.
Have token white guy play dutch or portuguese mercenary joining Ming army to thrash the japaness in Korea. Such a concept will fit well with domestic Chinese audience as well as communist party film guidelines.
Have token white guy play dutch or portuguese mercenary joining Ming army to thrash the japaness in Korea. Such a concept will fit well with domestic Chinese audience as well as communist party film guidelines.
Hamartia Antidote
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Thursday, 29 December, 2016, 11:02pm
China’s newer ‘Great Wall’ shaping up to be less of a long-lasting earner
http://www.scmp.com/business/compan...reat-wall-shaping-be-less-long-lasting-earner
"Despite nationwide hype, The Great Wall lies in second place in the domestic box office rankings after Jackie Chan’s latest action-comedy Railroad Tigers."
shadows888
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i'll give you that, but it already passed $150 million into $220 million now.
From the SCMP article:
Some were confused by the mix of Chinese and American elements in the filmmaking, and wondered who the film was meant to attract, Li Yi, a 29-year-old high school math teacher told the Los Angeles Times.
“Which audience is the film targeting? Older? Younger? Chinese? Foreigners? I can’t figure out who will prefer a film that is neither very Chinese nor very Western.”
I've watched parts of the film (but not in English), and from what I have seen it is certainly stuck somewhere between Chinese and Hollywood film making, and does neither very well. I think the only way to make this joint production concept work is to release two completely different cuts that are more suited to their respective audiences. That would probably mean completely cutting Matt Damon and Pedro Pascale from the Chinese version and replacing them with Chinese actors.
This film will possibly break even. The China box office will generate a high return because Wanda owns a large percentage of China's cinemas, meaning they earn 43% of the box office through their studio and a large share of the remaining 57% (less operating expenses) through their cinemas. So 200 - 220 million will return about 150-170 million, which will cover production costs, but still doesn't cover marketing costs of 50-70 million (some of which are carried by the cinema chains).
The films performance in international markets will determine if the film breaks even or not. A Feb 17 release sees the film enter the US market during a quiet period for movie goers, but with little competition from other studios (one reason why the release was delayed). Other markets might fare well, but based on what I saw this film will struggle because it just doesn't click. I hope this doesn't mean the end of the joint venture production concept, there were some great elements to build on for future productions.
Some were confused by the mix of Chinese and American elements in the filmmaking, and wondered who the film was meant to attract, Li Yi, a 29-year-old high school math teacher told the Los Angeles Times.
“Which audience is the film targeting? Older? Younger? Chinese? Foreigners? I can’t figure out who will prefer a film that is neither very Chinese nor very Western.”
I've watched parts of the film (but not in English), and from what I have seen it is certainly stuck somewhere between Chinese and Hollywood film making, and does neither very well. I think the only way to make this joint production concept work is to release two completely different cuts that are more suited to their respective audiences. That would probably mean completely cutting Matt Damon and Pedro Pascale from the Chinese version and replacing them with Chinese actors.
This film will possibly break even. The China box office will generate a high return because Wanda owns a large percentage of China's cinemas, meaning they earn 43% of the box office through their studio and a large share of the remaining 57% (less operating expenses) through their cinemas. So 200 - 220 million will return about 150-170 million, which will cover production costs, but still doesn't cover marketing costs of 50-70 million (some of which are carried by the cinema chains).
The films performance in international markets will determine if the film breaks even or not. A Feb 17 release sees the film enter the US market during a quiet period for movie goers, but with little competition from other studios (one reason why the release was delayed). Other markets might fare well, but based on what I saw this film will struggle because it just doesn't click. I hope this doesn't mean the end of the joint venture production concept, there were some great elements to build on for future productions.
Saw the trailer
Looks tacky.
Cast looks like they forced themself to appeal to Chinese audience according to what some analysts thinks Chinese want and at the same time to a Western audience according to what some analysts think Western audience prefers at the same time.
I don't like movies where I'm thrown out of suspension because of meta stuff like that.
Not like anything like that will necessarily stop it from being a success
Looks tacky.
Cast looks like they forced themself to appeal to Chinese audience according to what some analysts thinks Chinese want and at the same time to a Western audience according to what some analysts think Western audience prefers at the same time.
I don't like movies where I'm thrown out of suspension because of meta stuff like that.
Not like anything like that will necessarily stop it from being a success
Hamartia Antidote
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Well if China wants to assure a "blockbuster" movie they are going to have to appeal to audiences outside of China.
Even your hugely acclaimed domestic record success "The Mermaid" did absolutely horrible overseas (made less than $25M in total) and didn't make it into the top 10 this year (and this year sucked for blockbusters..2 out of the top 3 were kid's cartoons!!)
So they jammed Matt Damon into the movie hoping for a big score. We'll see.
i'll give you that, but it already passed $150 million into $220 million now.
I only see $151M numbers. But even that has passed my projection. Don't you limit movie runs to 1 month?
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Hamartia Antidote
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Wanda Denies Legendary's Thomas Tull Was Fired Over 'The Great Wall'
3:49 AM PST 1/20/2017
Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group issued a statement Friday denying media reports that Legendary Entertainment founder Thomas Tull was forced out of the company because of disappointment over the studio's latest big-budget film, The Great Wall.
"Such reports are pure speculation," Wanda said in a statement posted to its website. "The Great Wall has just begun its global release, and it hasn't even opened in North America yet. To say that [the film] is a failure is pure imagination."
"The personnel changes at Legendary are part of larger strategic arrangements being made at Wanda Pictures," the statement said. "We have major news to be announced soon," it added.
Tull resigned as chairman and CEO of Legendary on Tuesday. The former financial-industry executive founded Legendary in 2005 as a vehicle for investing in big-budget films, such as Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight. In 2013, it became an independent studio at Universal, before selling to Wanda for a reported $3.5 billion early last year. He was said to be in a multiyear contract with Wanda, but terms of his deals have not been disclosed.
The Great Wall has made about $165 million in China and $200 million worldwide so far. Directed by Chinese master Zhang Yimou and starring Matt Damon and an array of local stars, the film cost $150 million to make, the most ever for a U.S.-China co-production. Speaking in Davos at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin called the film "an experiment" for Chinese cinema on the world stage.
"It's hitting $200 million," he said. "If it can reach $400 million or $500 million around the world, it will be a success and means a Chinese story can be a box office hit."
Few analysts expect The Great Wall to hit such numbers, however. Reviews have been mixed, and many view the China performance as below expectation.
In Tull's absence, Wanda insider and international CEO Jack Gao is holding the reins until a replacement is hired.
"We are thankful to Thomas for his founding vision," Gao said in a statement Tuesday announcing the changes. "Wanda aims to transform Legendary into a next-generation studio ... with a far-reaching creative and global platform."
Sources told THR Thursday that Wanda is courting former Fox film-studio chief Jim Gianopulos to take the helm and oversee an expansion of Legendary into a full-fledged studio with global marketing and distribution capacities.
A representative for Wanda said, "We don't comment on rumors," and Gianopulos could not be reached for comment. But Wanda's statement on Friday suggested that a major escalation at Legendary could be chief among its goals.
In reference to "the larger strategic arrangements being made at Wanda Pictures," the statement urged readers to review Wanda's year-end report, which company chairman Wang Jianlin presented to staff at a corporate gathering in eastern China last week.
In the report, Wang highlights his goals in the film sector under a section titled "Key Tasks of 2017." Priorities include reaching 20 percent market share of the global box office by 2020 and attaining capacities at each link in the film business industrial chain, to boost efficiency and allow Wanda to compete on equal footing with the Hollywood majors.
"There are tens of thousands of film companies around the world, but there are only the big six in Hollywood which have global distribution capabilities," Wang said. "Even if Wanda controls 20 percent market share at the global box office [as an exhibitor], if it cannot distribute its own films to the world, the company lacks core competitiveness in the film industry."
"So now we will focus on this issue," he said.
In Davos on Wednesday, Wang reiterated his desire to simply acquire one of Hollywood's top studios — "I would be a happy buyer." But none of them are currently for sale, he noted.
So Wanda appears to have set its sights on expanding Legendary instead. And Tull, for one, is not their man for the job.
3:49 AM PST 1/20/2017
Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group issued a statement Friday denying media reports that Legendary Entertainment founder Thomas Tull was forced out of the company because of disappointment over the studio's latest big-budget film, The Great Wall.
"Such reports are pure speculation," Wanda said in a statement posted to its website. "The Great Wall has just begun its global release, and it hasn't even opened in North America yet. To say that [the film] is a failure is pure imagination."
"The personnel changes at Legendary are part of larger strategic arrangements being made at Wanda Pictures," the statement said. "We have major news to be announced soon," it added.
Tull resigned as chairman and CEO of Legendary on Tuesday. The former financial-industry executive founded Legendary in 2005 as a vehicle for investing in big-budget films, such as Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight. In 2013, it became an independent studio at Universal, before selling to Wanda for a reported $3.5 billion early last year. He was said to be in a multiyear contract with Wanda, but terms of his deals have not been disclosed.
The Great Wall has made about $165 million in China and $200 million worldwide so far. Directed by Chinese master Zhang Yimou and starring Matt Damon and an array of local stars, the film cost $150 million to make, the most ever for a U.S.-China co-production. Speaking in Davos at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin called the film "an experiment" for Chinese cinema on the world stage.
"It's hitting $200 million," he said. "If it can reach $400 million or $500 million around the world, it will be a success and means a Chinese story can be a box office hit."
Few analysts expect The Great Wall to hit such numbers, however. Reviews have been mixed, and many view the China performance as below expectation.
In Tull's absence, Wanda insider and international CEO Jack Gao is holding the reins until a replacement is hired.
"We are thankful to Thomas for his founding vision," Gao said in a statement Tuesday announcing the changes. "Wanda aims to transform Legendary into a next-generation studio ... with a far-reaching creative and global platform."
Sources told THR Thursday that Wanda is courting former Fox film-studio chief Jim Gianopulos to take the helm and oversee an expansion of Legendary into a full-fledged studio with global marketing and distribution capacities.
A representative for Wanda said, "We don't comment on rumors," and Gianopulos could not be reached for comment. But Wanda's statement on Friday suggested that a major escalation at Legendary could be chief among its goals.
In reference to "the larger strategic arrangements being made at Wanda Pictures," the statement urged readers to review Wanda's year-end report, which company chairman Wang Jianlin presented to staff at a corporate gathering in eastern China last week.
In the report, Wang highlights his goals in the film sector under a section titled "Key Tasks of 2017." Priorities include reaching 20 percent market share of the global box office by 2020 and attaining capacities at each link in the film business industrial chain, to boost efficiency and allow Wanda to compete on equal footing with the Hollywood majors.
"There are tens of thousands of film companies around the world, but there are only the big six in Hollywood which have global distribution capabilities," Wang said. "Even if Wanda controls 20 percent market share at the global box office [as an exhibitor], if it cannot distribute its own films to the world, the company lacks core competitiveness in the film industry."
"So now we will focus on this issue," he said.
In Davos on Wednesday, Wang reiterated his desire to simply acquire one of Hollywood's top studios — "I would be a happy buyer." But none of them are currently for sale, he noted.
So Wanda appears to have set its sights on expanding Legendary instead. And Tull, for one, is not their man for the job.
Daniel808
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Last time I see, The Great Wall already reach $205 Million a couple days ago.
With Good Reception in France, Germany, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Good Achievement for the first time.
Hamartia Antidote
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China $167,084,825
France $4,306,376
Germany $3,857,313
Indonesia $3,662,300
Malaysia $3,453,033
Total $203,900,000
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