Culture

Big-screen bonanza

By Xu Fan ( China Daily ) Updated: 2016-02-18 08:01:18

Big-screen bonanza

The fantasy comedy Mermaid, directed by Stephen Chow (second left), has topped the box-office charts during the Spring Festival holiday. Veteran singers Adam Cheng (left) and Karen Joy Morris sing the movie's theme song.[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

This is because in their young days the main way to see movies starring Stephen Chow or Chow Yun-fat was through videotapes or DVDs.

This also explains Stephen Chow's success with Mermaid.

Hailed as the "king of comedy", the 54-year-old filmmaker has influenced a large section of older Chinese film fans with his brand nonsensical humor.

A message that went viral on social media recently says: "We all owe Stephen Chow a ticket."

The message reflects the collective nostalgia of his large fan base of older viewers-a significant element in the unprecedented support for Mermaid.

So now, with 31,600 screens in more than 6,000 cinemas, yesterday's videotape enthusiasts around the country-who now form a large group of theatergoers-can see their movie idols on the big screen.

Even with promotional road shows-previously held in big cities-the focus is now on third- and fourth-tier cities, says Zeng Zhigang, vice-president of Ariadne's Thread, a Beijing-based movie firm.

China is populous country and will increasingly see more Chinese going to cinemas, says Zeng in a telephone interview with China Daily.

"More and more Chinese now want good-quality entertainment, which can also be used as a social networking tool or as a means for a family to hang out together," he says.

"Compared with stage plays or concerts, watching movies is definitely much cheaper," Zeng adds.

 
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