The Mermaid

The Mermaid is a 2016 Chinese -Hong Kong science fantasy romantic comedy film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Stephen Chow.The film tells the story of a playboy businessman (Deng Chao) who falls in love with a mermaid who was sent to assassinate him.

It was released in China on February 8, 2016.Upon release, it broke numerous box office records such as the biggest opening day and the biggest single day gross through its seventh day of release and having the biggest opening week of all time in China. On February 19, it became the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time.

A beautiful mermaid (Jelly Lin) falls for a developer (Deng Chao) who threatens the ecosystem of her species.

Initial release: February 8, 2016

Director: Stephen Chow

Box office: 553.8 million USD

Budget: 60.72 million USD

Screenplay: Stephen Chow, Lu Zhengyu, Ivy Kong, Si-Cheun Lee, Chan Hing-Ka, Kan-Cheung Tsang, Chi Keung Fung, Miu-Kei Ho

Playboy small business tycoon Liu Xuan expenses this Environment friendly Beach, some sort of wild animals pre-book, for just a beach reclamation challenge, in addition to works by using sonar technological know-how to lose the sea lifetime in the community. Mysterious to help them, this Environment friendly Beach would be the property connected with met people, along with the sonar possesses brought about quite a few to help kick the bucket or maybe receive tired. This several survivors have a home in a discontinued shipwreck from the beach, in addition to would like to assassinate Xuan intended for his or her manners. This menfolk post Shan (played by means of Lin Yun), an incredible mermaid who's going to be prepared to help go on her fins in addition to obscure involving mankind, within a "honey trap" story next to Xian. Within the night of Xuan's gathering celebrating his or her achievements, Shane, pretending as a dancer, allows the woman contact number to help Xuan.

Xuan, believing of which Shan is usually a prostitute, message or calls the woman range in order to make his or her small business associate envious. Shan goes toward Xuan in addition to makes an attempt to help get rid of them although the woman endeavors hold backfiring. Finally, Xuan establishes to help post Shan back home, in addition to along the route Shan normally takes them into a funfair of which your lover is effective on. Though at this time there, Shan makes an attempt to indicate Xuan you will discover far more important matters in comparison with dollars, in addition to Xuan is usually fascinated having Shan's uncomplicated, hilarious tricks. Many people expend manufactured in concert in addition to build inner thoughts for every single different. As soon as Xuan eventually normally takes Shan property, Shan easily posts Xuan absent previous to the woman persons can certainly get rid of them. Morning, Xuan normally takes Shan intended for a different time frame in addition to suggests, although Shan rejects them.

Of which nights, Xuan goes toward Shan's household to help talk with the woman, in addition to detects that your lover in addition to the woman spouse and children usually are merpeople. Next to Shan's needs, though others record Xuan in addition to make clear the way he or she is eradicating these individuals in reference to his progress challenge. Xuan is concerning for being mortally wounded as soon as Shan facilitates them evade. Xuan profits property in addition to, as soon as the great shock possesses utilized down, establishes to look into the issues connected with his or her challenge. He / she converts journey sonar although foolishly conveys to his or her small business associate of which Shan is usually a mermaid in addition to the spot that the different merpeople dwell. This anchorpeople usually are infected, in addition to quite a few usually are mortally wounded. Xuan comes on time just to save Shan previous to she actually is mortally wounded, in addition to posts the woman on this underwater and so your lover can certainly evade.

Four years in the future, a student gets to Xuan's property to help appreciate them intended for putting together some sort of fund intended for exploration in the environmental safeguard. This scholar questions Xuan no matter if anchorpeople usually are authentic along with the report that she fell into excited about some sort of mermaid applies, although Xuan denies the item. Xuan subsequently brings out this scholar to help his or her girl "Lucy", who's going to be basically Shan.

Deng Chao as Liu Xuan 

Lin Yun as Shan , the film's titular character "the Mermaid"

Show Luo as Octopus 

Zhang Yuqi as Ruolan , Xuan's business partner, the film's main antagonist

Kris Wu as Long Jianfei (cameo)

Lu Zhengyu

Fan Shuzhen

Li Shangzheng

Bo Xiaolong

Pierre Bourdaud

Ivan Kotik

Kong Lianshun (cameo)

Bai Ke (cameo)

Chiu Chi Ling (cameo)

Tin Kai-man (cameo)

Tsui Hark (cameo)

Wen Zhang (cameo)

Yang Neng

Zhang Mei'e

The Mermaid was filmed from October 2014 to February 2015 in three locations in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan, and then later in Beijing with the budget of US$60.72 million. Before the filming, confirmed cast members include Deng Chao, Show Luo, Zhang Yuqi, and newcomer Lin Yun was from a talent contest held specifically for The Mermaid in Shenzhen.

Stephen Chow harvested Deng Chao to help engage in this film's cause men's identity Liu Xuan, while Indicate Luo (who competed Octopus from the picture, in addition to received recently worked with Chow with Vacation towards Western world: Seizing this Demons) seemed to be likewise from the factor. Chow defined that she finally decided to go with Deng Chao with the cause purpose caused by his or her frustrating attractiveness with China and taiwan, in addition to he / she likewise received self confidence with Deng's comedic natural talent, acquiring discovered his or her tasks from the slapstick-style attack This Split Wizard.

Zhang Yuqi primary worked with Chow with CJ7 in addition to accumulated reputation by of which purpose. Many people both equally in the future fell into available within a hugely published contractual contest. Even so the particular marriage concerning these individuals just weren't strong in addition to Zhang the moment taken care of Chow as soon as he / she seemed to be within style violence by ex- dissatisfied collaborators in addition to staff members. As soon as Zhang bought some sort of telephone by Chow your lover was a student in some sort of dangerous state though the woman car or truck smashed decrease. Your lover claimed without a doubt to partake of this toss to help engage in this film's villain, in addition to identified this purpose to be a particular difficult task.

Picking a the female cause identity, this "Mermaid" Shan, seemed to be essentially the most published regions of this filming practice. Seeing that claimed with Oriental Regular Announcement, this subsequently 18-year-old actress Lin Yun seemed to be determined by means of Chow in addition to his or her illuminating workforce by in excess of 120, 000 players caused by the woman demure style within a natural talent match presented with Shenzhen. Apparently, over the 13 casting-training time, Lin Yun grabbed this illuminating team's little brown eyes to get tranquil in addition to compiled though different players tried using the trickiest to help gain access to this focus. In line with Lin Yun, your lover inserted this audition on the woman friends' endorsement, possesses generally shown admiration for Stephen Chow.

The mass audition was from July 31 - August 15, 2014 when everyone can submit the CVs to the website for online votes and for the casting team to choose. A total of 43 contestants were selected after the first round, and then would be shortlisted to 13 finalists to participate in the final contest held on September 15, 2014.Among them, six were chosen to continue in the audition process. Lin Yun eventually won the role of the film.

This report seemed to be prompted by means of Hans Roscoe Andersen's story book connected with "The Very little Mermaid" when a mermaid likes some sort of people, although Chow needed to allow it to become a sophisticated design: "I discovered good resourceful living space in addition to progress likely on the story". With a different meet with, Chow claimed: "I'm basically an enormous fairy-tale addict. Many the preceding post titles is usually grasped seeing that fairy myths. On this planet connected with fairy myths, this unpleasant usually are punished along with the beneficial go to the delighted stopping. When i pick the strategy.

A different enthusiasm derives from Chow's unique youth practical knowledge. "I were located by means of beach inside my fresh era in addition to When i checked the sea day-to-day, imagining the definition of in there? When i seemed to be anxious in addition to inquiring. When i seemed to be incredibly tense as i swam from the beach every time in addition to believed at this time there could well be anything concealed directly below. When i seemed to be intrigued by this (mermaid) report after that, in addition to When i believed I could truthfully complete this picture 6 in the past in addition to started off publishing this screenplay around a half dozen in the past.

Buoyed by anticipation from fans as well as having the advantage of opening a day after the Chinese New Year, The Mermaid recorded an opening day record of US$40.9 million, which is the biggest opening day for a Chinese film (breaking Lost In Hong Kong's record) and the second biggest of all time there only behind the opening day of Furious 7. US$1 million came from midnight screenings. It set a new record for the fastest film to earn CN¥1 billion (US$152.4 million), doing so in just 4 days of release, and also recorded the largest 5-days gross (US$187.3 million). Through its seven-day opening week, it grossed a total of $275.1 million, breaking records for the biggest seven-day gross and the biggest-opening week of all time in China (breaking Furious 7's record), and the third biggest of all time, behind Hollywood films Star Wars: The Force Awakens (US$390.8 million) and Jurassic World (US$296.2 million).It grossed US$120.4 million alone for the three-day opening weekend (Friday to Sunday), which is the biggest of all time in China and the second biggest three-day gross behind Furious 7's Saturday to Monday gross. 

This along with From Vegas to Macau III (US$119 million) and The Monkey King 2 (US$116 million) helped Chinese box office break the Guinness World Record for the biggest box office week with $548 million from February 8 – 14, 2016. The previous record was set during the week of December 26, 2015 – January 1, 2016 when Star Wars: The Force Awakens led the box office with US$261 million and the box office that week total led US$529.6 million. And the previous biggest Chinese box office week was set in July 2015 when Monster Hunt, Pancake Man, and Monkey King: Hero is Back, combined for a then total US$253 million during their first week. On February 19 – 12 days after release  the film became the highest-grossing film in China with CN¥2.45 billion, overtaking the previous record holder, Monster Hunt.In its second weekend, it fell precipitously by 53% to US$55.9 million from 155,704 screenings for a 14-day total of US$419.2 million. On February 26, it was announced that The Mermaid has grossed 3 billion yuan (US$459 million) on its 19th day since release on Chinese mainland. It is the first film ever to launch the 3-billion-yuan club in China's film industry and set a new milestone. On March 5, it became the first film to gross over US$500 million in China and the seventh overall in a single territory.To date, The Mermaid has grossed 3.39 billion yuan (US$525 million) in China, and due to its success, its theatrical release in China has also been extended to June 2016.

The film also found success outside of the Middle Kingdom where it scored the biggest opening day of all time for a Chinese film in Malaysia ($838,000) and Singapore ($528,000). It also opened at No. 1 in Malaysia with US$3.8 million (ahead of Dead pool) and in Vietnam with US$2 million. In Singapore, it debuted at No. 2 with US$1.6 million. In Hong Kong, The Mermaid broke the local opening day record with HK$4.96 million (US$638,352), surpassing the previous record holder Kung Fu Hustle (HK$4.42 million) which was also directed by Chow. As of April 3, it has grossed a total of US$7.69 million there.

It was released by Sony Pictures in a limited release in the United States on February 19 across 35 theaters.It grossed $985 thousands on its opening weekend at an average of $28,144 per theater  making it the biggest opening weekend for a limited release Chinese-language film.

However, Apple Daily reported that Taiwan won't be releasing The Mermaid. Taiwanese quota regulations permit only ten Chinese mainland films to be released in Taiwan every year. The mainland movies must draw lots and only those with numbers 1–10 get permission The Mermaid drew . This was the first time that Taiwan audiences missed a Stephen Chow's film, and there were protests from fans against Taiwan's cultural ministry.

Respond to this picture has become commonly constructive. It offers some sort of 92% ranking with Rotten Acidic tomatoes dependent on 20 critic opinions, with the normal status connected with 6. 8/10. This virtual reality vital agreement flows, "The Mermaid has a enthusiasm to help adapt to this weird, although buttocks in place it is madcap arrivals connected with nice that has a big-hearted story book as well as a resonant meaning. inch

Glenn Kenny on the Big apple Situations states that This Mermaid is usually "no everyday fantastical rom-com. encompassing the way it may weaponize beach urchins, very delectable roasted birds, man-octopus self-mutilation along with comic oddities." Bilge Ebiri connected with Big apple Publication praises this picture seeing that it truly is "amazing the way distinct in addition to weird Mermaid is able to for being, in particular presented this hugely type principle the way particular the item senses, in the midst of each of the absurdist, go-for-broke sense of humor. The item ought to get for being viewed. inch Dylan Kick ham connected with Activity Regular feels this picture is usually "at it is very best as soon as the item embraces this bizarre, no-holds-barred, farcical comedy of which Chow has grown to be regarded intended for, on account of shows including Kung Fu Hustle in addition to Havoline Sports. Before it starts, in addition to in the course of center of this flick, Chow in addition to his or her personalities provide some sort of full-force farce. inch Simon Abrams connected with Roger Ebert. com states that "It isn't going to make any difference if you can't including subtitles. No matter if you've got never ever discovered this home. No matter if you've got never ever viewed some sort of Far east flick that you saw. It will eventually allow you to be guffaw. Secured. " Southern region China and taiwan A . m . Post's picture critic Tom Sin afforded this picture several outside of all 5 personalities in addition to talks about the item seeing that "a stable dreamed having cardiovascular system in addition to, most importantly, some sort of message", nevertheless he / she opines that it currently being your second picture by Chow where by he / she is always driving this video camera, the item "has for being frustrating to help Hong kongers". 

Adam Marsh connected with TV screen Overseas states that actress Lin "brings some sort of wonderfully quirky demean our to help the woman literal species of fish outside of water" in addition to "the often hokey CGI solely increases the film’s oddball attraction. inch Zhang Rui connected with China and taiwan. org. states that "The picture incorporates a uncomplicated in addition to sturdy meaning to produce: Appreciate can certainly go beyond battle along with hindrances. You could potentially seldom be ready to view a really 100 % pure story book in addition to a really fresh topic with blockbusters for an extended time, although Chow has done the item that has a 100 % pure in addition to childlike cardiovascular system. inch Elizabeth Kerr on the The movies Reporter states that "the fantastical Mermaid produces it is meaning with not a shred connected with subtlety (and is usually unapologetic in relation to it) although having sizable attraction, humor in addition to darkness to help replace with the item. "Wei Xi connected with World wide Situations is usually far more vital, in addition to message or calls the item lacklustre which have a practical Chow's preceding Vacation towards Western world. Movie Exclusive. com afforded this picture some outside of all 5 personalities in addition to states that this picture "is an extensive offer some sort of stellar toss which often produces enjoyment tasks, a reliable report in relation to environmentalism, and the majority essentially: some sort of barrelful connected with a joke secured to help think about the whole family.