Chapter 46
Emma Stone felt almost deafened by the roaring applause in the auditorium.
Though she had a brief guest role as Perkins in John Wick, she had only one day of filming and had never seen the finished product until the premiere.
After witnessing John Wick's journey—from the devastating loss of his wife and dog at the film's start, through the blood-soaked battles that left no room for breath, to the poignant final moments where one man and his dog disappear into the night—Emma was deeply moved.
The great revenge was achieved, but the loss remained irreparable.
Leaning back in her seat, Emma sighed, overwhelmed by emotion.
Then, the auditorium erupted into deafening applause, cheers, and whistles!
Startled, Emma's reverie was broken. The film's success was undeniable!
The audience's enthusiastic reaction was reminiscent of the premiere of Spider-Man. Though The Twilight Saga, which she starred in, was set to release a week later and was considered a rival to John Wick, Emma found herself instinctively happy for Xu Can.
"Baby! You succeeded!" Sister Shitou exclaimed, but the noise of the crowd drowned out her words.
In the midst of the cheers, Xu Can and the creative team stood up to thank the audience.
The film had matched, if not surpassed, the original's impact. With Spider-Man booming and expectations set high, it was clear the box office would be strong. The anticipated earnings were expected to exceed $88 million, making the venture a stable investment.
"John Wick is a thrilling, action-packed movie that will make your blood boil! 10/10"
"The story reminds us: never mess with someone's dog! 9/10"
"A 101-minute revenge tale featuring relentless headshots and fierce action! 8.5/10"
"Unique and exciting action scenes distinguish it from previous gunfight movies! Worth a rewatch! 8/10"
"Though it's early in 2007, this might be the best action film of the year! 10/10"
"No dull moments! After watching, I felt like hitting the shooting range! 8.5/10"
"Action film directors, take note! Learn from how Xu Can directs action! 9/10"
"I thought Xu Can would stick to Spider-Man, but he's quickly proven his versatility! Handsome! 10/10"
The next day, IMDb, the largest film review site in North America, saw a surge of users rating John Wick.
The film, which subverted traditional action genres, received rave reviews with a remarkable 9.4/10 score.
Although this rating might decrease over time, it showcased the film's overwhelming reputation.
The internal projections at Galaxy Pictures estimated that the box office needed to make back its investment with a minimum of $50 million, targeting around $80 million to match the previous film's success.
The financial health of Galaxy Pictures was at stake, with their other ventures, including Galaxy Music's investment in Taylor Swift's new album, also burning through cash.
Happy Hogan, astounded by the box office numbers, could hardly believe it.
"How much… how much?" he stammered.
"Here are the numbers, Mr. Hogan," an employee pointed at the large projection screen.
On its opening day, John Wick grossed $45.75 million in North America, surpassing other major releases.
Happy was ecstatic, but Xu Can remained composed, playing with his phone as if it were any other day.
"Don't get too excited," Xu Can advised. "Twilight is coming next week."
The highly anticipated vampire romance film from Summit Entertainment had been heavily promoted and was expected to impact John Wick's box office.
Happy suggested additional promotion, but Xu Can dismissed the idea.
"Investing in more advertising won't make a difference without at least $10 to $20 million."
Instead, Xu Can planned to invest in a new Marvel project, disregarding Happy's concerns about the risks involved.
Happy, though skeptical, acquiesced. Xu Can's unwavering confidence and decisive manner left him with no choice but to support his decision.
As John Wick continued its box office success, surpassing $120 million in its first weekend, Xu Can was surprised by the results.
The film had exceeded its predecessor's global box office earnings in just three days, and fan excitement was palpable.
In Hollywood, John Wick's release sent shockwaves through the industry.
Renowned critic Roger Ebert praised the film, noting its fresh approach to action cinema and Xu Can's standout performance. Other media outlets echoed similar sentiments, with the film receiving high praise and positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
The success of John Wick established Xu Can as a prominent filmmaker, with his gamble paying off. The phone at his assistant Vanessa's desk buzzed with inquiries from top industry figures, including Kevin Feige.
"Boss, Kevin Feige is here. Should we let him in?" Vanessa asked.
Xu Can realized that discussions about Iron Man should be prioritized.
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