Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

At midnight on March 14th, "Take My Brother Away" officially premiered in theaters nationwide.

The roadshow, which lasted for half a month and covered more than ten key cities, was like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples that continued to spread online and in real-world word-of-mouth.

When the theatrical release date arrived, these ripples converged into the first wave of moviegoers.

First-day box office figures: 2100 million.

For a low-budget film without big-name stars, huge special effects, and with almost all of its directors and lead actors being newcomers, this is a surprisingly impressive figure that exceeded everyone's expectations.

Zhang Lei's uncle's voice was filled with laughter: "A great start! Reputation is key, keep it up!"

Word of mouth is indeed spreading rapidly.

Among professional film critics, the independent film critic "Black Iron Age," known for his sharp and incisive style, published a lengthy review at noon on the day of the premiere:

"Take My Brother Away": A low-budget emotional "nuclear bomb". No flashy techniques, no melodramatic clichés, just a sincere story about loss and reunion of family.

New director Zhang Lei maintained a steady pace, new actor Liu Haochun displayed remarkable talent, and Chen Nianbei…

He has once again proven that he is not only a "good actor," but also a "good actor" and a "good producer." From actor to producer, he has demonstrated a precise understanding of the market and the emotions of the audience.

He brought the character of Shi Fen to life; his cheeky yet affectionate way of showing care is a true reflection of many Chinese sibling relationships.

The younger sister's realization and running at the end is the emotional climax of the entire film; it is simple, yet possesses a power that touches the heart.

The biggest surprise of the year so far.

The short review in the authoritative film magazine *Popular Cinema* was more moderate but affirmative:

In a market saturated with visual spectacles and grand narratives, "Take My Brother Away" is a breath of fresh air.

It returns to the most basic and eternal emotion—family affection.

The script is solid, the humor and pathos are naturally distributed, and the actors' performances are sincere and believable.

It may not be "profound" enough, but it is "moving" enough.

Recommended for all viewers who have siblings or have longed for siblings.

Most of the feedback came from ordinary viewers. It opened with a 7.9 rating on Douban, which then slowly climbed to 8.1.

The short review section was filled with keywords such as "touching", "cried so much", "reminded my brother/sister", and "a low-budget but conscientious work".

"I was just watching it with my girlfriend, but I ended up crying like a baby..."

I remember always bullying my sister when we were kids. Now she's abroad, and I haven't seen her in ages.

"Liu Haochun's acting was superb! That mix of disdain and dependence on her brother in her eyes was absolutely brilliant!"

"Chen Nianbei is truly a treasure of an actress; she can convincingly portray any role, and this production was such a success!"

"The movie theater was filled with sobbing... The boy in the seat next to me was crying even harder than I was."

"I took my younger brother to see it, and surprisingly, he didn't try to take my phone afterward. He even asked me if I was hungry... Movie magic?"

On Weibo, the number of views for movie-related topics has risen rapidly.

Countless viewers posted photos of their ticket stubs and red, tear-filled eyes, sharing their stories with their brothers and sisters.

The line and gesture, "Take my brother/sister away? No way!", have become popular memes and short video material.

Many film and television-related self-media also followed suit, producing analytical videos such as "Why did 'Take My Brother Away' become a dark horse?" and "A detailed look at the touching details in the movie," further boosting its popularity.

Box office performance has proven the power of word-of-mouth. In its opening weekend, the film grossed over 8000 million yuan, and its occupancy rate ranked among the highest of films released during the same period.

The cinemas reacted quickly by increasing the number of screenings.

The following week, box office revenue maintained a relatively steady decline on weekdays, and even saw a slight rebound over the weekend.

Liu Haochun's Weibo followers skyrocketed from tens of thousands to millions, and her youthful yet touching performance won her a lot of goodwill.

Zhou Yiran and Wang Hao have also gained considerable attention. Zhang Lei, as a new director, has begun to be mentioned in the industry.

Chen Nianbei, on the other hand, undoubtedly became one of the biggest winners.

His Weibo followers have exceeded 3.5 million, and the comments section is no longer limited to praise for his looks and acting skills, but also includes discussions about his eye for choosing films and his production capabilities.

"Good looks, good acting skills, and brains" has become his new label.

Almost every day, Naza would excitedly report on every positive review she saw via phone or text message, making her even happier than if she herself had succeeded.

Dilraba generously stated at a public event:

"I am very happy for Nianbei and Director Zhang. I have seen the movie, and it is very heartwarming and touching. It is one of my favorite movies recently. I hope more people will support it."

Enlight Media capitalized on the momentum, increasing its investment in social media and offline promotion in some cities.

The movie's access key was also extended for another month.

Ultimately, when the film was gradually taken off the screens more than a month later, its cumulative box office figure settled at 2.5 million RMB.

While it didn't generate a staggering billion or two billion dollars, for a film with a production cost of less than ten million, a return on investment exceeding twenty times is undoubtedly a huge success, making it a true dark horse in the market.

The celebration banquet was held at an elegant club in Beijing.

The distribution team of Enlight Pictures, director Zhang Lei, producer and lead actors Chen Nianbei, Liu Haochun, Zhou Yiran, Wang Hao and other core creative team members were all present.

Zhang Lei's uncle raised a glass in congratulations:

"Congratulations on the outstanding success of 'Take My Brother Away'! This is not only a box office success, but also a victory for a great story, great production, and a great team! Thank you to director Zhang Lei, producer Chen Nianbei, and all the cast and crew! We look forward to more collaborations in the future!"

Zhang Lei was so excited that he was somewhat incoherent, only repeatedly saying "Thank you everyone."

Chen Nianbei stood in the crowd, smiling, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries with people from all sides.

The 2 million yuan box office is the first major affirmation of his ability to step out of his role as a mere actor and attempt to take control of the overall project since his rebirth.

This proves his vision, judgment, and execution.

This successful investment has brought far more than just economic benefits; it has also brought industry recognition, increased influence, and more choices and possibilities for the future.

After the celebration banquet, Zhang Lei pulled Chen Nianbei to the terrace, where the night breeze dispelled the effects of the alcohol.

"Nianbei, we...we really did it."

Looking at the city lights in the distance, Zhang Lei's voice choked with emotion, "I never dared to dream that my first film would gross 200 million yuan..."

"This is just the beginning, Lei Zi."

Chen Nianbei patted his shoulder, her tone calm yet full of strength, "With this work as a foundation, you'll have many more options for what you want to film next."

"And what about you?"

Zhang Lei looked at him, "The Legend of the Ancient Sword is about to air, right? You'll definitely be getting tons of offers. Is there... a chance for us to work together again?"

"certainly."

Chen Nianbei smiled and said, "As long as the script is good, anytime."

He looked up at the night sky. The clamor surrounding the 2 million yuan box office gradually subsided.

The success of "Take My Brother Away" served as a solid foundation, raising his starting point.

The upcoming broadcast of "Swords of Legends" will be another important appearance in his acting career.