Chapter 1128: Topping the world rankings!

"Dad, Wrinkles is notorious for bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Don't be angry about this, your health is the most important thing!'

'Yes, Yifu, there's nothing we can do about their lack of shame.'

In the chairman's office at TVB headquarters, Shiu Wai-ming and Fong Yee-wah looked concerned as they tried to comfort Shiu Yat-fu.

After all, Shiu Yat-fu had been through thick and thin before. He let off some steam, then gathered himself together, waved his hand to indicate that he was fine, and said:

'You two sit down. I know my own body, I'm not going to collapse just yet.'

After hearing this, Shiu Wai-ming returned to the sofa, while Fong Yee-wah went to make some tea.

'Ah Ming, how much money has been spent on publicity?'

Shao Weiming was silent for a moment before saying, 'Dad, I don't have the detailed statistics, but I think it's already spent about 6 million Hong Kong dollars.'

Although the Shaw Brothers Film Company participated in the investment of "Blade Runner," the dominant rights always belonged to Warner Bros. Pictures.

It was only that the Asian distribution business was contracted out to the Shaw Brothers Film Company by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Therefore, in Asia, the Shaw Brothers Film Company was responsible for when and how "Blade Runner" was released.

As for the box office revenue in Asia, a portion goes to the cinema chain that screened the film, a portion goes to Shaw Brothers Pictures as the distributor, and the rest belongs to the film's producers as their share of the box office. Warner Bros. Pictures, Shaw Brothers Pictures and other investors then split the rest.

Within Asia, the publicity and distribution costs of HK$6 million are already not small!

Shaw Yifu pondered for a moment, and after calculating the publicity and distribution costs and the revenue needed, the pressure in his heart increased by another point.

Shao Weiming knew what his father was thinking.

After a long silence, Shao Yifu asked softly, 'Have you seen the film?'

Shao Weiming nodded: "I went to the Universal Cinema last night and watched it secretly.'

Shao Yifu asked expressionlessly, "And the quality?'

After a few seconds of silence, Shao Weiming glanced at the newspaper on the table and, seeing the bolded figure on the front page, said with difficulty, 'Dad, I hate to admit it, but the quality of the movie "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" is extremely high. It has a good reputation and is suitable for the whole family, so it is certain to be a box office hit and will last at least half a month.'

'For the time being, it would be wise to avoid the limelight, but...'

Before he could finish, Shao Weiming let out a long sigh and a worried expression appeared on his face.

Shao Yifu believed his son's words, so it made him feel even worse.

He slowly shook his head and said, 'No backing out!'

'We have no way out either!'

Shao Weiming's mouth twitched, but in the end, he did not persuade again.

He was now the president of Shaw Brothers Pictures, and he had strongly recommended that his father invest in the movie Blade Runner. To be honest, he would be the one who would suffer the most if Blade Runner was rescheduled, because rescheduling would mean admitting defeat early.

He has been fighting a war of words with Galaxy Studios since last year. If he concedes now without even fighting, he may be able to save some interests, but Shaw Brothers Studios will lose face and suffer a great intangible loss.

'Okay, there's no point in thinking about it anymore.'

'Warner Bros. has set June 19th as the release date, and they want to crush MGM. Even if we delay the release date in Asia, they won't delay it in the US.'

'The Asian film market is relatively small after all, and the key is still the North American and European markets.'

'Of course, the quality of the film is fundamental. If the film is good, it can break the momentum of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial next weekend. If the film is unpopular, it will still be a flop at the box office no matter when it is released.'

'I have confidence in 'Blade Runner'!'

At the end of the conversation, Shao Yifu looked inexplicable, not sure whether he was talking to his son or cheering himself on.

Seeing his father give the go-ahead, Shao Weiming nodded and said solemnly, 'Dad, our "Blade Runner" will definitely be a box office smash!'

Shao Yifu gave a smile and instructed, 'There are only six days left. Keep up the publicity. We can't let the enemy take all the limelight. Don't be stingy with the money!'

Shao Weiming took a deep breath and replied loudly, 'Yes!'

'Hurry up!'

Shao Yifu waved his hand, dismissed his son, and then slumped in his chair, not knowing what to think.

At this time, Fang Yihua walked up behind Shao Yifu, looked at him with concern, and gently massaged his temples.

'Yifu, we have put in so much hard work and invested so much, the box office of "Blade Runner" will definitely be a hit, so don't worry too much,'

Shao Yifu smiled and said slowly, 'Listen to you, I won't worry anymore. Things have already been done to this extent, it's a case of all or nothing. If we still lose, it's just our fate.'

'Besides,'

'even if I lose, Hong Kong movies will continue to get better and better. As a pioneer of Hong Kong movies, I should be happy to see this...'

Fang Yihua was silent upon hearing this, and continued to massage Shao Yifu, but she sighed in her heart.

As his pillow talk, how does he not know that Shao Yifu is just pretending to be strong? When he said these words, it actually represented his pessimistic state of mind.

...

Due to the time difference around the world, when Hong Kong announced the first day box office, the United States had not even fully passed a day.

However, by the afternoon of June 13, the global box office for 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' had already been tallied.

Among them, North America, as the largest box office, had 1,101 cinemas showing the film, and the first day box office was 6.92 million US dollars!

The total box office in Europe was 2.53 million US dollars.

As the home base of the first cinema in Asia, the Universal Cinema, the box office in the Asian region was naturally not small, with a total box office of 2.79 million US dollars.

In addition, other regions combined had 360,000 US dollars.

Therefore, the total global first day box office of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' was 12.6 million US dollars!

It topped the global single-day box office champion!

The figures have sent shockwaves through the global film industry!

Other Hollywood giants have also realised that MGM, now owned by Polaris Capital, is once again roaring to the world.

The former overlord has once again risen to its feet, and is proclaiming its existence to the world in such an overbearing way!

Warner Bros. Pictures, which is about to engage in a fierce battle with MGM, is aware of the gravity of the situation and has urgently called a senior management meeting, which has attracted the attention of many journalists, who are looking forward to Warner Bros. Pictures' response.

...

As a group of moviegoers finished watching the film, the word-of-mouth buzz surrounding E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial began to grow.

Tenderness, boyish innocence, and an unconventional friendship could be harmoniously unified in one film.

That sincere, adorable little alien with a turtle-like belly, a springy neck, and Einstein-like eyes—E.T.—captivated the hearts of all moviegoers.

With excellent word-of-mouth, the audience's enthusiasm for watching the movie increased even more. The global box office for the second day climbed again, reaching 135.2 million US dollars. The global box office for 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' broke the 20 million US dollar mark, reaching 261.2 million US dollars!

The first weekend box office in North America reached 141.1 million US dollars, topping the North American weekend box office champion!

At the end of the week,

Local box office in Hong Kong reached HK$14.15 million, setting a record for the first week of local box office in Hong Kong. Chow Yun-fat, who played a supporting role in the film, became the envy of all performing artists in Hong Kong!

The global total box office for the first week reached 735.4 million US dollars!

Among them, the North American box office for the first week reached 382.4 million US dollars, which surprisingly broke the first week box office record set by 'Star Wars 4: A New Hope' in 1977, and topped the throne of the first historical North American weekly box office champion!

For a while, the American entertainment media was like a shot of adrenaline, scrambling to report on the news, which further boosted the popularity of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'.

The popularity of MGM Pictures and Galaxy Studios also soared, with Galaxy Studios in particular benefiting the most, with its popularity in the United States skyrocketing.

However, the road to success was destined to encounter obstacles.

Countless people with ulterior motives dared not let MGM be so arrogant, and all cursed it for taking a big fall.

As the week drew to a close,

the first obstacle appeared, with many people secretly wishing it well.

On 19 June, Warner Bros. Pictures released its annual sci-fi blockbuster Blade Runner.