Inside a theater in America, the audience was crying their eyes out. At the premiere in China, it wasn't any better. The women in the crowd all had red-rimmed eyes.
Those with lower tear thresholds were bawling like crazy. Zhang Ning had already gone through two packs of tissues she'd brought in her bag. The used ones were stuffed into her coat pocket, and even her sleeves were damp from being used as substitutes.
Even the ones who held it in better had red eyes when they got up to clap. Applause and choked sobs filled the premiere hall together.
Clapping wasn't unusual. As long as a film wasn't a complete disaster, you'd hear polite applause at a premiere.
But the real sign of success was the sobbing, along with heated discussions.
"An imperfect love is the perfect love. Li's death is what made it a classic romance film. If he'd lived, things might not have worked out with Rose. They'd still have to face the wall of class."
"I'm satisfied with the movie. Honestly, I was worried at first. There've been a lot of Western news pieces smearing cruise ship workers. But Titanic showed things fairly."
"Of course it's fair. Look at who starred in it and who funded it."
"Global box office won't be low. Maybe it'll break a billion dollars."
Critics like Ye Linfan and Ying Chengfeng were impressed, especially with the 3D effects. The immersion made everyone hold their breath for the leads.
When the film ended, it was exactly 7 p.m. By custom, the organizers had arranged a banquet. So the six hundred guests left the theater and went straight to Baolinxuan Hotel's banquet hall.
Chu Zhi sat with familiar faces like Wang An'yi, Min Jeongbae, and Zhang Ning.
"Xiao Jiu's gotten bad, lying to me like that. That's what you call a good ending?" Zhang Ning's fragile heart couldn't handle the blow.
"I thought it was a good ending. Rose lived the life Li wanted for her, riding horses, traveling the world, living fully." Chu Zhi explained.
"You make sense, but it still hurt me on the way. So it's not perfect." Zhang Ning's nose and eyes were red.
"Then it must be my fault," Chu Zhi said right away. "If you're free tonight, Ning-jie, supper's on me."
She nodded, satisfied, and let it go. Overall, she liked the movie, though the last hour really broke her heart.
The entertainment industry kept everyone busy, so reunions were rare. Even though they wanted to chat more with Chu Zhi, Wang An'yi spoke up, and the rest fell silent.
"Cameron broke past the limits of Boca and made a great film," Wang An'yi said loftily. "The way he handled the sinking scenes with thousands of people puts him in the ranks of world-class directors."
Boca had been Cameron's earlier hit. It only had a $30 million budget but raked in $470 million in North America, a massive success. Cameron had made several profitable films in a row, but until now, he'd always been one step short of world-class.
Then again, a $30 million sci-fi in Hollywood was bound to look like a small production. Boca hadn't shown any big crowd direction, so it wasn't strange people doubted his ability.
"While watching, I thought this unknown director really had something. Afterward, I wanted to watch it again," said Xu Qiao, Best Actor at Locarno International Film Festival.
Chu Zhi hadn't known him before. He was only here because he'd been cast as the male lead in Director Wang's new film. Since Wang invited him to help promote Unsinkable, he had to stick with people he knew or it'd be awkward.
"It's a pity about the release window. Hollywood's dropping 0811: Point of No Return and Star Ranger soon. President Kang mentioned just now that both will also screen here. Otherwise, Unsinkable would definitely cross a billion," Xu Qiao said.
"I don't agree. Digital Agent and Pistol Hero won't outdo Unsinkable, even though I haven't seen them yet," said Yang Linbin, the female lead of Wang's new film.
Her name stood out. Using rare characters as a stage name was risky. Just look at Yan Kuan—wasn't Yan Yikuan harder to remember? Still, Yang Linbin's stage name was also her real one. "Linbin" meant dazzling beauty, a name given by her late foster mother. Blood ties or foster ties—which mattered more? Most chose the latter, and so did she. The story of her biological parents abandoning her, then showing up again when she became famous, was another tale, but every adult had one.
"Digital Agent, Pistol Hero?" Xu Qiao caught on quickly. In 0811, Douglas played a nameless agent known only by his code. The internet dubbed him Digital Agent. As for Pistol Hero, that came from Star Ranger's original comics, where one bullet could shatter worlds. The film, though, nerfed him so badly that volleys of fire couldn't kill a single alien. Netizens mocked him as Pistol Hero.
"You haven't seen them. How can you be so sure?" Xu Qiao asked.
"I already bought tickets to see Unsinkable again tomorrow with my bestie," Yang Linbin replied. "But no matter how good Digital Agent or Pistol Hero are, I'd never watch them twice."
In other words, plenty of fans would rewatch Unsinkable.
Xu Qiao thought about it. She had a point—lots of women would rewatch. But he still felt Unsinkable would lose some steam against the other two, since 0811 was one of his favorite series.
Here's something funny: Unsinkable was imported by China Film because Chu Zhi starred in it. Without him, it wouldn't have landed the summer slot. As for Star Ranger and Point of No Return, who knew how much their companies paid to push them through? Just look at Future Empire, which had to wait two more months to screen.
The banquet that followed was the usual smooth but distant networking in the industry. Let's skip ahead to the fun part: that evening, Unsinkable whipped up a storm.
Gu Peng, the top fan of Chu Zhi recognized by the internet, had grabbed first-batch tickets. He didn't care about the plot at all, his eyes were glued only to Chu Zhi as the wandering painter.
"I've got a bold guess. Could Xiao Jiu actually be some kind of male succubus?" Gu Peng muttered in awe at his friend's looks. Then he overheard a young couple nearby who'd just watched the film too.
"Holy shit, I'm losing it, Jiu-yé's finally back in business. That face is insane."
"You're a girl, watch your mouth in public. Don't just shout holy shit every other word."
"Then you say it. Go on."
"Jiu-yé's unreal looks come half from his clear, rare-shaped eyes, open and honest on the surface, framed by thick lashes and soft under-eyes that seem to carry smoke and dust, sharp edges hidden beneath. The other half comes from the angles of his T-zone bones, wild yet refined, stirring with masculine force. Every flicker of his gaze was breathtaking. When he stood there, it felt like time stopped."
"…Holy shit?"
Gu Peng almost laughed. He'd always thought Chu Zhi was ridiculously good-looking but never had the words for why. Now he knew.
Unsinkable also launched merch: artbooks, a plastic Heart of the Ocean necklace, and most expensively, lifelike Lee and Rose figures made with FOX and HT's soldier-tech. Everyone knew soldier figures cost way more than regular ones.
"Being cultured is scary," Gu Peng muttered. He wasn't cultured, but he had money. He bought the two figures the young couple had wanted but couldn't afford.
Online, people thought Digital Agent and Pistol Hero might put up a fight. But really, they weren't even in the same league. For Little Fruits, the perfect line summed it up: "Jiu-yé finally remembered to come back." Excitement spread like wildfire.
Comments online:
Fish-Selling Bro: [It's been three years since he last appeared on screen. Three years, do you know how I survived these three years? Film more, damn it! With a face like that, if he doesn't act, what's he even doing?!]
E Zhi Hua: [Rejoice, rejoice, we've got living Bilibili material now.]
Nanyou Qiaomu Lulu Yuyu: [Before watching, I thought Laura was dumb. Why give up being a rich wife for "freedom"? Can handsomeness feed you? After watching… Handsome like that absolutely feeds you. If I were Laura, I'd ditch the fiancé too!]
Cold Se: [Great movie, brother Jiu picked a good one.]
ICanCultivate: [Hehehe can I get on top of him?]
China's first-day box office hit 356.118 million yuan, more than three billion in a single day, crushing Digital Agent and Pistol Hero.
A quick look at the Friday, June 11 box office numbers in Europe and America—
Unsinkable pulled in 60.45 million dollars on its opening day.
0811: Critical Moment scored 104.45 million.
Star Ranger landed 97.33 million.
Future Empire managed 59.51 million.
First-day results always tie into things like marketing, franchise reputation, and audience expectations. Of course the champ was a long-running series, and second place got a huge boost from its popular comic origins. What could beat that? Still, thanks to Chu Zhi's buzz from Masked Singer and FOX's aggressive promo push, the film managed to edge out the sci-fi blockbuster Future Empire, which was adapted from a best-selling novel. Even so, the opening-day attendance couldn't compare to China, since that's home ground for the Emperor Beast.
But once the four films actually hit theaters, the differences in audience word of mouth became crystal clear.
Two short reviews from IMDb:☆ 9/10 "This movie…"Sukeala1: [This film made me cry. Even as I type this review on my phone, tears are still in my eyes!]
☆ 8/10 "I don't think it's good enough"Giant Robot: [A movie disaster saved only by the soundtrack, the special effects, and the male lead.]
But let's be real. If a film already has top-tier effects, music, and a lead actor who's solid, what more do you really need?
Now two long reviews:☆ 10/10 "Any review scoring this film lower than nine just isn't credible"Louis100: [No movie is perfect. This one has flaws. The story's childish like a fairy tale, the plot development predictable. But none of that distracts enough to ruin the experience.
It delivers one unforgettable scene after another. Li and Rose spreading their arms at the bow, flying with the wind. And that ending… even the biggest, toughest men in the theater were crying.
The music is another pillar of its success, a crucial piece. The love theme is both beautiful and tragic.
I checked the credits. The composer is the male lead himself. I'll admit it—I've become a fan of the Chinese star Chu Zhi.]
☆ 9/10 "Damn you, Cameron"Adrenaline1: [He tricked me into giving him another nine. I don't even know why.
The story's cliché. I knew the ending the moment Li and Rose met.
The dialogue feels like it was written by an 18-year-old intern.
The acting? Honestly unremarkable.
But—
Chu Zhi is just too damn cool!]
Among the top four films in North America, their IMDb debut scores, in order of box office, were 7.9, 7.5, 9.0, and 8.2.
The audience reception was way stronger for Unsinkable, so naturally the next step was for the box office to catch up. Take Laura, for example—dragged by her bestie to see the movie against her will. When it ended, she did three things in a row: followed Chu Zhi on social media, bought his album, and started recommending the movie to friends like a walking billboard.
So of course, on Saturday the 12th, the second day after release, the reversal happened! Not only did Unsinkable overtake its rivals, it even grew compared to opening day, raking in 108.53 million dollars to take the day's top spot.
The other three movies followed the usual curve, sliding downwards. Even though 0811: Critical Moment and Future Empire only dipped slightly, it was enough to hand over the crown.
The numbers speak loudest. In just two days, Chu Zhi's Facebook and Twitter followings shot up by over 13 million. Ridiculous. The last time growth like this happened was when Beckham opened his official account.
FOX, who'd been terrified the movie would flop, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Casting an Asian lead in Hollywood is always risky, but now it seems "looks matter more than skin color or nationality." Cameron still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Every international director who makes a name for themselves has a signature skill. Director Wang Anyi, for example, is a master of color. In Shiyi Lang, her camera turned Chu Zhi into a beautiful crystal vase, gorgeous but fragile. Cameron's strength lies in perfect use of practical props. That's why he spent millions building a 1:1 ship model, and it's why Chu Zhi himself became another "prop," used to the fullest.
So why did Cameron insist on casting Chu Zhi despite all the doubts? His looks and his presence.
Li, the male lead, saves Rose because he offers her what she doesn't have. She's wealthy but suffocated, trapped. Li, a wandering artist who sold everything for a ticket, has nothing, but he has freedom. People long for what they lack. On paper, that's the logic. But in practice? Cameron wanted Li to be even more appealing than a fairy tale prince.
And it worked perfectly. Li was witty, charming, and with that kind of face, even if he didn't embody "freedom," it still made sense.
The heat around Unsinkable and Chu Zhi soared sky-high, unstoppable.
Chu Zhi's wandering painter Li might not conquer every Western man, but he absolutely captured the hearts of countless women, and even many men admired him too.
Top-tier beauty always wins, no matter the place. Just look at P-site and O-site, the global platforms. Who tops the charts? The ones recognized as beautiful by both East and West.
"He's the king of the world, the king of every female audience member." — Hollywood Sentinel
"Singer or actor? He's Chu Zhi, the man who unified women's standards of beauty worldwide." — Chicago Tribune
"Critic Jeff Norfolk said: Cameron spent 200 million dollars to tell a clumsy story, but the lead actor saved it." — Los Angeles Times
Among professional critics, Unsinkable wasn't universally praised. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 85% freshness, way below Future Empire. Take Jeff Norfolk again—he admitted Chu Zhi's looks, but mostly used that to attack Cameron and the movie itself.
Plenty of similar takes flooded Rotten Tomatoes. Many insisted Chu Zhi's face and music saved the movie, then hyped his composing talent like it was unmatched on Earth.
But another major magazine spun it differently.
"Thirty percent of Chu Zhi's success comes from a face that makes men jealous." — Rolling Stone
The dig was obvious. When Chu Zhi released All Nations, Vol. 1, he'd outsold Rolling Stone Records' star artist. They still hadn't let it go, hinting that much of his 15-million-plus sales came from his looks.
But so what? If it works, it works. They could be as salty as they liked, but the title of best physical sales in the past decade still sat on his head.
With music dragged into the mix, fashion wasn't far behind. Entertainment and fashion always go hand in hand. So People, GQ, Playgirl, and others all lined up features. Douglas had topped lists of "100 Most Beautiful Faces in the World" multiple times. GQ had also once ranked him "Asia's Most Beautiful." Between "world" and "Asia," Douglas clearly had the broader female appeal. To test it, People magazine sent reporters onto Fifth Avenue in New York with photo books of Douglas, Chu Zhi, and Zimmerman, asking strangers to rank them by looks alone.
People belongs to Time Warner and is one of the world's best-known magazines. Famous for its annual "Most Beautiful" lists, it's become almost a symbol of American pop culture's global reach.
Zimmerman was no slouch either. A Hollywood heartthrob often called the "last cowboy of the 21st century," with rugged masculinity and wild charm. Comparing him directly with Chu Zhi was a bold move.
Six reporters asked 200 random pedestrians. And the results shocked People magazine…