Popular mainland Chinese actor Zhang Ruoyun, known for his role in the hit TV drama “Joy of Life,” has recently transitioned to the big screen with the release of the movie “Evacuation from the 21st Century.” Despite receiving a decent rating of 7.6 on Douban and positive reviews during the summer box office season, the film’s box office performance fell short of expectations. With an investment of 80 million yuan, the movie only grossed 103 million yuan in the two weeks since its release. Many netizens have advised him to “stick to acting in TV dramas.”
At the age of 35, Zhang Ruoyun gained immense popularity with his portrayal of “Fan Xian” in the second season of “Joy of Life,” which has consistently topped the viewership charts in mainland China. Last month, he garnered a 25.56% approval rating, surpassing Hu Ge’s 17.28% and ranking second only to Zhu Yilong’s 34.76% in a poll for best young actor in mainland Chinese dramas.
His recent movie “Evacuation from the 21st Century” tells the story of three high school students who accidentally gain the ability to travel through time on a fictional planet. They become entangled in a conspiracy and ultimately transform into superheroes trying to save the world.
After its release on August 2 in mainland China, the film received mixed reviews. Some audience members expressed difficulties in grasping the focal points of the movie, suggesting that while the subject matter seemed novel, it lacked avant-garde and innovative elements. However, others praised the film for its creativity. Currently, the movie holds a rating of 7.6 on Douban.
Despite its relatively favorable rating of 7.6 during the summer box office season, reports suggest that the movie, with an investment of around 80 million yuan, only grossed 100 million yuan in its first two weeks since release, falling significantly short of the expected box office revenue. Considering additional costs such as promotion, the total expenses likely exceed 100 million yuan, with the film needing to reach at least 300 million yuan to break even. Many netizens have recommended that Zhang Ruoyun focus on TV dramas, as this year’s movie box office performance has been deemed lackluster.
According to real-time data from mainland Chinese online platforms as of 11:25 pm on the 17th, the total box office revenue (including presales) of summer movies from June to August 2024 amounted to 10 billion yuan. This figure is only half of what was recorded during the same period last year, reflecting a widespread gloomy situation. So far, 138 films have been released or scheduled for the summer season, with “The Claw Machine,” “Silent Slaughter,” and “A Small Convenience Store by the Clouds” currently leading the box office rankings. The majority of films have failed to recoup their costs or have suffered huge losses, with reports of box office failures almost daily.