On April 15, Sohu reported that during a promotional event for the film Spirit of the Dragon, the film crew and lead actor Thành Long faced a negative situation. An audience member stood up and labeled the film as “trash,” demanding a refund for their ticket.
In response, Thành Long appeared flustered and acknowledged the audience’s opinions, emphasizing the need to improve based on the audience’s feedback. Co-star Quách Kịch Lân had to steer the conversation in a different direction to avoid further discomfort.
According to Sohu, the film Spirit of the Dragon has received numerous negative reviews regarding its lackluster content, poor execution, and absence of memorable moments, leading to widespread disappointment among viewers. Prior to this, Thành Long’s reputation had been steadily declining as many of his works, such as Kung Fu Yoga, The Great Wall, Dragon Blade, and Skiptrace, failed to achieve commercial success.
Despite these criticisms, Thành Long aims to capitalize on the star power of aging actors, yet the performances of the cast have often fallen short, contributing to the film’s overall failure.
Thành Long’s film disappoints, leading viewers to demand refunds.
As reported by QQ, the film Spirit of the Dragon has grossed 129 million yuan (approximately 18.8 million USD). Ticket sales forecasts suggest that the film’s total revenue may only reach around 230 million yuan (33 million USD) before it is pulled from theaters.
Meanwhile, the production costs for the film soared to 300 million yuan, not including expenses for marketing and profit sharing with theaters. Spirit of the Dragon continues to mark Thành Long’s streak of box office failures.
QQ analyzes that Thành Long’s film is being released during a relatively quiet period, not competing against major blockbusters. However, this may lead to a decrease in audience turnout. Additionally, the film’s declining reputation among viewers is exacerbated by the negative buzz surrounding Spirit of the Dragon.
Thành Long’s continued struggles on screen over the years.
Thành Long and Châu Tinh Trì used to be the prominent stars of the Chinese film industry. However, as they age, audiences are increasingly turning away from them due to their recent string of low-quality productions.
