In a news piece dated October 9, 2024, a movie called “Roaring Lion,” touted as “China’s first Buddhist patriotic-themed film,” has received official endorsement from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, from its release on September 28th to October 2nd, the film only attracted two viewers, with a box office revenue of a mere 79 yuan (RMB, Chinese currency). It has become the least successful film in mainland China’s National Day holiday lineup.
“Roaring Lion” is introduced in public materials from mainland China as a grand Buddhist film depicting the patriotic tale of the eminent Buddhist monk, Master Juzan, who “fights off bandits on horseback and practices Buddhism dismounted.” According to mainland media reports, the film enlisted the participation of eight major temples nationwide and involved 300 monks in authentic performances. Due to its theme aligned with the mainstream ideology, the film has received official favor from the CCP.
Prior to the film’s premiere, on September 24th, the production team promoted in a “distribution notice” for this 91-minute film, stating that “Venerable Zhan Kong, Vice President of Guangxi Buddhist Association, was invited as a Buddhist consultant and participated in the creative process of the film. Venerable Zhan Kong provided guidance on set for over fifty days during the filming.”
Although the exact investment in the film has not been disclosed, analysts from mainland China speculate that when factoring in the costs of temples, monks, and war scenes, the production budget for “Roaring Lion” is likely substantial. Records indicate that the film actually began filming in 2017 and obtained a release permit in 2020, yet for unknown reasons, it was shelved for seven years before being released.
Data from the “Maoyan” platform shows that since its release on September 28th until October 2nd, the film only made 79 yuan at the box office. The production company received 18 yuan from this amount, while the theaters collected 26 yuan. Some netizens humorously questioned, “Who gets the remaining 5 yuan?” and quipped, “The ‘Roaring Lion’ crew consists of three to four hundred people, and the film had only two viewers. Maybe the director and lead actor went to watch it themselves.”
Furthermore, some audience members criticized the film, stating, “These types of ideological films are really outdated and not favored by young viewers. Without promotional effects and unable to generate profits, it’s simply a waste of everyone’s money.”