Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 452: Outbreak

December 15th, Sunday.

The winter sun in Beijing streamed through the glass windows into the top-floor office of the Jingxin Building, bringing a false sense of warmth.

The air inside seemed somewhat stagnant due to the silent anticipation.

Wang Sheng stood by the window, his gaze seemingly fixed on the bustling traffic below, yet also seemingly transcending time and space to fall upon the cinemas scattered across the country.

Li Tingting tiptoed in and placed a freshly printed document, still warm from the printer, on the large desk.

Her movements were carried with an almost pious caution, as if those few thin pages of paper weighed an immense weight.

"President Wang," her voice was slightly trembling with excitement, "the preliminary data for the first day... is out."

Wang Sheng slowly turned around, without immediately touching the document.

He looked at Li Tingting with a calm gaze, but those who knew him well could detect a subtle, almost imperceptible, searching look within it.

"How many?"

Li Tingting took a deep breath and clearly and forcefully announced the figure that had already caused a small-scale earthquake within the organization: "According to statistics from cinemas that have been connected to the Special Fund Office's data center, the preliminary box office figure for 'Night at the Museum' on its opening day is 1292 million yuan!"

Despite being mentally prepared, Wang Sheng's eyelids still twitched almost imperceptibly when the number was pronounced precisely.

He walked to the table, picked up the report, and his eyes quickly scanned the details that made up that astonishing figure:

Statistical scope: approximately 1700 effective screens (accounting for about 55% of the total number of effective screens in the country of 3072; data for the remaining cinemas have not yet been fully entered due to system or process reasons, but they can already reflect the main trends).

Single screen capacity: calculated based on an average of 100 seats per theater.

Prime-time screenings (afternoon to evening peak hours): 2 screenings, 100% occupancy, average revenue per screening = 100 seats * average price of 20 yuan * 100% = 2000 yuan/screening. 2 screenings * 1700 screens * 2000 yuan/screening = 680 million yuan.

Other screenings (morning, noon, late night, etc.): Estimated 3 screenings, average attendance rate 60%, average revenue per screening = 100 seats * average price of 20 yuan * 60% = 1200 yuan/screening. 3 screenings * 1700 screens * 1200 yuan/screening = 612 million yuan.

The preliminary total for the first day was: 680 million + 612 million = 1292 million yuan.

The report also includes a small note: This data is only a preliminary statistic and does not include all cinemas. The final verified figures are expected to be higher.

12,920,000!
Wang Sheng's fingertips tapped lightly on the line of numbers.

This number is not just a box office record; it is more like a key that unlocks a door that has been sealed for a long time, a door that countless filmmakers have looked up to but felt was out of reach.

The office was so quiet that only the faint sound of the central air conditioning could be heard.

Li Tingting held her breath and stared intently at Wang Sheng.

“Notify the public relations and publicity departments,” Wang Sheng’s voice broke the silence, steady and powerful, “We can begin to take action. The key is not what we broke, but what we… proved.”

"Understood!" Li Tingting understood immediately and turned to carry out the order. ...

evening.

As various evening newspapers published their figures, the total was 12.92 million yuan. This carefully packaged and authorized "rough report" was like another bombshell thrown into a calm lake, igniting the entire public opinion field.

Breaking News! "Night at the Museum" grosses 1292 million yuan on its opening day, setting a new record for domestic films!

"Wang Sheng's fantasy epic ignites a market frenzy, raking in nearly 13 million in a single day!"

1292 million! Has a new era begun?

The media headlines were increasingly sensational, filled with astonishment and disbelief. The significance of this number far exceeded the success of a single film.

This means that four years after Titanic crushed the mainland market in 1998 with its phenomenal box office of 3.6 million RMB (Note: According to actual data, Titanic's box office in mainland China in 1998 was approximately 3.6 million RMB), setting a monument that made all domestic films tremble in awe, finally a domestically produced film has shown a terrifying explosive power in terms of single-day box office performance that is comparable to, or even challenges, its total record!

The glory of "Titanic" was built on the backdrop of Hollywood's mature industrial system, global cultural influence, and the relatively weak and almost powerless mainland Chinese film market at the time.

Like an unstoppable giant ship, it sailed across a sea of ​​small boats, leaving behind not only a box office legend, but also a hidden pain and shadow in the hearts of a generation of Chinese filmmakers—when will our own films have such appeal? When will we be able to reclaim the market peak firmly occupied by Hollywood blockbusters?
Six years ago, Wang Sheng was just an unknown child of the Beijing Film Studio, starting out in wedding videography. No one could have imagined that this seemingly insignificant stream would eventually become the mighty river it is today.

In six years, Chinese commercial films have progressed from the initial exploration of television movies like "Family Harmony Brings Prosperity," to the urban comedy exploration of "30 Days," to the social issues that broke into the mainstream with "The Pursuit of Happyness," to the genre success of "First Love" and "My Sassy Girl," and the industrial advancement and international acclaim of "Shaolin Soccer"... Step by step, they have accumulated content, expanded genres, cultivated audiences, and built confidence.

In six years, the reform of the film market mechanism has progressed from the exploration of the Beijing Film Studio Alliance to the vigorous implementation of the cinema chain system, the frenzied expansion and penetration of cross-provincial cinema chains such as China Film Shengshi, and the ticket purchase experience innovation brought by the "Maoyan" platform... It is the opening up of channels, the improvement of infrastructure, and the complete stimulation of market vitality.

All of this, all the effort, struggle, innovation and perseverance, seems to have been concentrated and confirmed in the 1292 million yuan box office gross of "Night at the Museum" on its opening day!

On online forums, movie fans and netizens are in a frenzy.

"1292 million! My goodness! Is this real? That's almost enough for the total box office of many movies in just one day!"

"I contributed two tickets! I took my parents, and they were laughing even more than I was! This movie is really suitable for the whole family!"

"I was so shocked when I watched Titanic back then, I thought Hollywood was amazing. Now that I see our own movies are just as amazing, I really... feel like crying."

"Brothers, let's do the math! This is only the first day! If we can maintain this momentum, is it possible that Titanic will break the $3.6 million record?!"

"Upstairs, it's not impossible! The momentum is too strong! And this is just a preliminary report, not a complete one!"

……

Take on the challenge of Titanic!
This topic, which was once unthinkable, has spread like wildfire among the general public.

It has become more than just a professional discussion within the industry; it has transformed into a shared dream that embodies national pride and cultural expectations.

Six years of honing a sword, yet its sharp edge remains untested.

Today, Ba Shijun, who is injustice?
(End of this chapter)