I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 320 - 320 319. Open champagne at midfield_1

Chapter 320: 319. Open champagne at midfield_1 Chapter 320: 319. Open champagne at midfield_1 Unlike the absolute dominance it had domestically, overseas, and especially in North America, “Magic Tide’s” box office situation is not optimistic.

First of all, “Fatal Speed 11,” as an established franchise, has a lot of loyal fans in North America, and its finale is drawing maximum hype. It’s safe to say that if it weren’t for “Magic Tide,” the North American box office champion this year would undoubtedly be “Fatal Speed 11.”

Secondly, although this movie marks the end of the series, it doesn’t mean the actors and producers will stop making movies. They already have plans for a similar racing-themed film in the works. This film is an end but not a conclusion, therefore, the box office is quite significant.

Furthermore, “Magic Tide” is a fantasy epic, a genre that, even in Europe and America, does not have the widest audience. Just like some domestic audiences avoid ancient martial arts and fantasy films, there are those in the West who are repelled by knights and armor. Especially in North America, a place with little sense of historical depth, stories set closer to home are more appealing than distant fantasies. With a strong car culture where a young person’s first vehicle is very important, “Fatal Speed 11” has the advantage in terms of genre.

Lastly, the number of screenings is a hard hit.

“Fatal Speed 11” had forty-seven percent of North America’s screenings on its opening day, while “Magic Tide” had only seventeen percent. The thirty percent gap cannot be compensated for by quality or word of mouth.

If North America’s box office total on Christmas Day is five hundred million US dollars, then “Fatal Speed 11” could reach over two hundred million dollars while “Magic Tide” would be capped at eighty million dollars.

This could already be seen from the presales, where “Fatal Speed 11” approached one hundred million US dollars on its first day, while “Magic Tide” was under twenty million.

North American audiences are clearly not confident about “Magic Tide.”

A few hours after “Magic Tide” premiered in Jiangcheng, New York in North America also welcomed midnight.

The two highly anticipated films arrived as scheduled.

The New York Times even set up a dedicated webpage to provide real-time updates on the box office takings of both films.

And just past midnight, as the first shows ended, “Fatal Speed 11” took a significant lead.

In fact, anyone with even a slight understanding of box office performance could tell that under such a wide gap in screenings, “Magic Tide” was definitely not going to surpass “Fatal Speed 11.” The opening day champion was one hundred percent “Fatal Speed 11.”

By evening in North America, twenty-four hours later, The New York Times’ website showed “Fatal Speed 11” with a North American box office of one hundred and thirty million US dollars, while “Magic Tide” had forty million.

In a special broadcast room displayed on the NASDAQ screen, a female host and two guests discussed the two films.

“I think what ‘Magic Tide’ lacks is character development of a hero. Throughout the movie, we only see the struggle of common people and no hero, no Transcendent, only martyrs. A movie without heroes lacks a central theme, and that is exactly where it failed,” one guest commented.

“In contrast, ‘Fatal Speed 11’ focuses on the relationship between the protagonist and his family. The emotions between family members are more touching than those involving a person’s relationship with the world. This is why ‘Fatal Speed 11′ succeeded,” another guest added.

After hearing the guests’ comments, the bespectacled female host looked towards the audience.

“After hearing our guests’ views at this exciting moment, I have some special words I want to say,” she stated.

She stood up and walked to one side, in front of the screen showing the real-time box office figures for both “Fatal Speed 11” and “Magic Tide,” and began speaking graphically.

“What’s happening now is utterly crazy, right here in New York, Times Square. This is unprecedented. Let me be specific. I want to talk to you about success. Everything about success is about growth, inheritance, continuation, about family.”

“To succeed, you must overcome yourself, the glory you once achieved. To succeed, you must be able to stand up against numerous defeats. No one can embody this more than the ‘Fatal Speed’ team.”

“Cyril, he’s one of the biggest box office draws for action movies in North America and across the world. Despite his track record, he has never achieved his dream of being number one at the annual box office, but he never gave up.”

“Looking back, a few years ago, the ‘Fatal Speed’ franchise was continuously outdone by superhero series films, until six years ago when the highest-grossing film of the series was released. That summer, nothing could stop Cyril and his ‘Fatal Speed,’ not even the mass-produced superheroes from the canning factory.”

“But, as we later learned, the release of two films in the fall caused him to miss out on becoming the annual box office champion. This time, he could not even secure second place. Worse yet, he may have missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“Then again, it was those popcorn superhero movies, one after another, standing like mountains in his way, yet he and his ‘Fatal Speed’ never stopped fighting. In the previous installment, he finally overcame his Heart Demon, overcame a superhero movie. And now?”

“We’re at the end of the most luxurious opening day of the Christmas season. Before ‘Fatal Speed’ was released, it faced much criticism from reviewers who suggested Cyril and his racing movie were on the decline. Those critics blindly praised Lu Ban, the director from the East, claiming he would achieve a top-five all-time box office.”

“But so far, we haven’t seen the impressive quality ‘Magic Tide’ that was rumored about, we haven’t seen the splendid performance that Lu Ban was supposed to bring to the audience. What we have seen is Cyril and his amazing racing skills providing a visual and auditory feast for the audience.”

“Everything has come to this day, the final moment of the opening day box office. Heart Demons can be conquered, dreams may be realized, and Cyril and his ‘Fatal Speed 11’ will prove their strength to the world, while Lu Ban and his ‘Magic Tide’ will become the best backdrop on the road to victory.”

“Let us wait and see, a new legend is born.”

The host spoke passionately, drawing many onlookers, while the screen behind her displayed that in North America, “Fatal Speed 11’s” opening day box office crushed “Magic Tide,” becoming the day’s box office champion.

And just as this victory proclamation and video spread across the internet, being shared in the domestic market, the domestic box office statistics for the first day were also released.