Chapter 22

In 2004, a social networking site called "Face" was launched at Harvard University, quickly becoming a hit across the entire campus. By the end of 2006, it had grown to over 12 million active users and nearly 100 million registered users, solidifying its status as the most popular social networking site in North America.

On the night of December 21st and into the early hours of December 22nd, many young people were browsing the internet before bed, checking out updates from friends and seeing if their crushes had posted any new photos. Suddenly, a blurry photo of Spider-Man in a suit appeared on their news feeds, accompanied by a post that read, "This is the best movie I've ever seen! This is simply the most awesome Spider-Man in my opinion! I want to rewatch it countless times! Oh my gosh!"

At first, people were skeptical. A few enthusiastic fans didn't necessarily mean the movie was of high quality. However, this sentiment didn't remain isolated. Soon, more fans who had attended the premiere began posting similarly ecstatic reviews, and the buzz started to build.

"Who says Asians can't play Spider-Man? Xu Can is so handsome! He's the best Spider-Man!"

"Go buy tickets and watch! Don't ask any questions—just go! If you don't like it, I'll refund you!"

"A tip: go to a nearby theater right now and buy tickets for Spider-Man. If you wait, you won't be able to get any!"

"No matter the plot or the visuals, this is the best movie of the year! Spending over two hours in the theater was an absolute thrill!"

"You have no idea how amazing this live-action Spider-Man is! Xu Can is Spider-Man! Stan Lee himself confirmed it!"

"The most handsome Spider-Man in history! I was wrong to doubt Sony's casting choice!"

"Oh my gosh! I declare Spider-Man the best movie of the year!"

"As a die-hard Marvel fan, I can tell you that this Spider-Man movie stays true to the original comics. You won't regret watching it."

Initially, the media had been predicting a box office flop for Spider-Man. They speculated that it might not even crack $200 million in total revenue or make it into the top 10 for the year. But now, it seemed public opinion was shifting dramatically.

As more fans who attended the premiere posted glowing reviews, others couldn't resist joining in. Some people decided to wait and see, while others couldn't hold back and ran to their nearest theater to buy tickets. By midnight, the previously low attendance rates skyrocketed, with many theaters reaching over 50% capacity.

Two hours later, in more than 4,000 theaters across North America, the first wave of audiences exited the 0 o'clock screening of Spider-Man. Despite it being nearly 3 AM, the streets were bustling with excited chatter as people discussed the movie.

"I didn't believe the hype at first, but it really is that good!"

"My heart is still racing! I'm going to watch it again tomorrow!"

"Let's hurry home and rate it on IMDb!"

If the initial reactions from the premiere had limited impact, the word-of-mouth explosion following the U.S. premiere solidified Spider-Man's reputation. As people logged onto movie forums, social media, and blogs, they were met with a flood of enthusiastic reviews.

The two most well-known film review websites in North America, IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, soon published the movie's ratings. Spider-Man held an impressive IMDb score of 9.8/10, with comments like:

"A masterpiece—full marks!"

"The best of the year, even surpassing Pirates of the Caribbean 2!"

"The best live-action Spider-Man ever!"

"Xu Can's performance is phenomenal, not just in action scenes but in dramatic ones as well."

"There's not a single dull moment—wear a diaper if you must!"

Rotten Tomatoes also gave the film a freshness rating of 97%, with the audience score nearly perfect. One of the few dissenting voices commented:

"The visuals were too intense! My heart can't handle that kind of excitement! But otherwise, it was great!"

"The camera work is so immersive that it made me a bit dizzy!"

The night of Spider-Man's premiere was nothing short of madness. More people logged off early, unaware of the online explosion of praise. By the next morning, they were met with a fresh wave of glowing reviews.

"Spider-Man Smashes Records on Opening Day with $57.25 Million!"

"Critical Acclaim Turns the Tide: The Most Handsome Spider-Man Ever Could Take the Year's Box Office Crown!"

"A Thrilling, Two-Hour Cinematic Experience: The Live-Action Comic Book Movie is Back! Haven't Seen Spider-Man Yet?"

"Spider-Man Star Stuns the Media with a Live Performance at the Premiere—Rave Reviews Pour In!"

On the morning of December 22nd, major newspapers, media outlets, and news channels were buzzing with reports about this phenomenal comic book movie. The same media that had previously doubted the casting of a Chinese Spider-Man and the potential pitfalls of adapting a comic book into a live-action movie were now showering it with praise.

Despite initial skepticism, Spider-Man shattered expectations, setting a new opening day record for 2006 with $57.25 million, surpassing Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest's $55.8 million. With a second-day box office of $120 million, it was clear that Spider-Man was on track to break more records.

Sony Entertainment's North American chairman, Howard Stringer, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even he found it hard to believe.

"Did we really pull this off? Did Marc Webb and that Asian guy really succeed?"

"Yes, boss. Xu Can is a genius. We've struck gold... The champagne is ready, boss. Do you want to say a few words?"

Sony's executives were already celebrating with champagne to toast Spider-Man's success at the box office.

"Pop the champagne! Now, get Xu Can—yes, find his agent! We need to lock him in for the sequel! Don't let him slip away!"

Howard Stringer knew that Xu Can, once an unknown Asian actor, was now poised to become a Hollywood star. Spider-Man's sequel had to be fast-tracked, and there was no way they could move forward without securing Xu Can's involvement. He was Sony Entertainment's new golden goose, and Stringer would do whatever it took to keep him on board—even if it meant offering a personal thank you and two kisses!

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