Everyone familiar with the Chinese and Hong Kong cinema industry knows that director-actor Stephen Chow (周星驰) has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to comedy films. However, has his popularity started to go down over the years?
Cinemas in China recently re-screened Stephen’s 1996 hit movie, “The God Of Cookery (食神)”. The comedy film revolves around a renowned chef who seeks to regain his title as the God of Cookery after losing it due to his arrogant personality. The movie is widely considered one of the star’s best works and was one of the best-selling movies in Hong Kong during its release year.
However, when the film was re-screened in China on 31st August 2024 (Saturday), it only sold about 2.2 million yuan (approximately RM1.34 million) worth of tickets. Even with pre-sale tickets, the total box office revenue was less than 3 million yuan (approximately RM1.83 million), which was low for a movie regarded as a cult classic. Chinese media estimated that the final box office sales for “The God Of Cookery” would be around 14 million yuan (approximately RM8.54 million).
As the film couldn’t break into the top 10 box office for opening weekend, many Chinese netizens discussed whether this shows a decline in Stephen Chow’s popularity. One netizen posted on an online forum, writing, “Stephen Chow has officially stepped down from the altar”. In the comments, some netizens lamented the 62-year-old is no longer the hitmaker he once was, noting that his recent releases haven’t been doing well.
However, many defended the Hong Kong director, saying the movie is popular regardless of the current-day sales. Others even said that since the movie is nearly 30 years old, it’s possible that many fans have already seen it and had no reason to pay to see it in cinemas. Some also said that the recorded sales are decent for a re-released movie without any additional features.
Of course, low sales don’t change that “The God Of Cookery” remains one of Stephen’s most-loved works. As for the director, he’s still a well-respected figure in Hong Kong cinema and a role model for many celebrities – but what are your thoughts on this?
Source: China Press, PTT
