Why did China’s Ne Zha 2 become the first movie to break $1 billion in a single market?

CGTN Europe

CGTN Europe interviewed Karen Krizanovich, a film journalist, broadcaster, and writer

Transcript

00:00The film journalist Karen Krasanovich is secretary of the London Film Critics Circle.

00:05Karen, welcome back. Good to see you.

00:07Well, this is shattered box office records.

00:09What's the secret of its success?

00:12Well, there's a lot to be said for the secret of its success.

00:16I think it's several different elements.

00:18Number one, the film came out.

00:20I mean, already the first film was a big success.

00:22The second one came out at exactly the right time at the Chinese box office,

00:26which is the new year, big time for cinema going.

00:29It's got a terrific back story.

00:31We've got a young pharmacist, started out as a pharmacist.

00:34His name means dumpling.

00:36Josie, the director who had several successful shorts.

00:40It took him six years to make this film.

00:42He's been living with his mother after his father died, living on her pension.

00:46It's just it's a wonderful, wonderful back story.

00:48And also he's channeled a lot of his energies into using Maya software,

00:52which makes the film look very, very bright and smooth and sharp.

00:57So a lot of new technology there, combined with an old story

01:01that also matches a lot of modern day sentiments.

01:04Let's talk about the money, because this is the first non-Hollywood film to pass one billion

01:10and the first film globally to do so in a single market.

01:13How significant is all of that?

01:16That's hugely significant.

01:18I mean, I think China has been looking at the success of Chinese based films.

01:25I mean, roughly like Kung Fu Panda, things like that.

01:28And wondering, you know, how can we do that?

01:30And I think that this is an example of them trying.

01:34And I think that it's number one, animation means that a family can go and see it for the most part.

01:40Number two, it's bright, it's colorful, and kids are used to it.

01:44And it also has a very conservative, a lot of the story is quite conservative.

01:49It's based on a folklore, folklore tale.

01:53So I think all of those elements also make it significant in terms of just storytelling in general,

02:00no matter which country it's from.

02:02Okay, well this is opening in U.S. cinemas after this huge success in China.

02:08Does success in one territory necessarily mean it's going to be a big hit somewhere else?

02:14No, it doesn't automatically.

02:17But if it gets the right marketing and the right press,

02:20which I think everybody wants to see a movie that's made this much money,

02:24I think that certainly bodes well for this film.

02:27But you have to remember that in order for the film to be a huge success,

02:32it has to appeal to an enormous demographic.

02:35And a lot of people are finding the film too sentimental.

02:38Now, I haven't seen it, I've only seen the trailer.

02:41So the important thing is to go and see it and have your own opinion.

02:45Some analysts are suggesting that this film's success really does signal a shift

02:49in Chinese audience preferences away from Hollywood movies.

02:54Do you think it does?

02:57I think Chinese audiences want to see something good like all cinema-going audiences.

03:03And I think if it's available and the word of mouth is hot, they will definitely go.

03:08I don't think it's necessarily a shift,

03:10but it certainly will open up their minds to more locally created fare.

03:15Karen, good to see you. Thank you for that.

03:17Karen Krasanovich, the film journalist.

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