Zhao Liying has been a sensation in the Chinese drama scene, with countless hits under her belt. She recently ventured into the film industry once more, starring in four movies: "The Twentieth Article," "Path of Fire," "Qiao Yan's Concerns," and "Sunflower." As these films were released, their box office results came in. The film "The Twentieth Article," where she played a supporting role, grossed 2.429 billion RMB (approximately 1.48 billion MYR), marking a good start. "Path of Fire," co-starring with male lead Xiao Yang, also performed well. However, the subsequent films where she played the lead role did not fare as well. "Qiao Yan's Concerns" earned 151 million RMB (approximately 92.33 million MYR), and the final film "Sunflower," released during the Qingming Festival, grossed 80.6 million RMB (approximately 49.29 million MYR) in its first three days. It is estimated that its total box office might be similar to "Qiao Yan's Concerns."
In these films, "The Twentieth Article" was directed by the renowned Zhang Yimou, with Lei Jiayin and Ma Li as the main leads, released during the Chinese New Year period. Although Zhao Liying's screen time was limited, she captured the audience's attention, sparking more online discussion than the two leads, and was even criticized for overshadowing them. However, the real test of her box office appeal with "Qiao Yan's Concerns" and "Sunflower" fell flat. In "Qiao Yan's Concerns," she engaged in an acting showdown with Xin Zhilei, while "Sunflower" was under the direction of famous director Feng Xiaogang. She even took on the role of producer, investing her salary into the film, but the audience seemed indifferent.
In these films, "The Twentieth Article" was directed by the renowned Zhang Yimou, with Lei Jiayin and Ma Li as the main leads, released during the Chinese New Year period. Although Zhao Liying's screen time was limited, she captured the audience's attention, sparking more online discussion than the two leads, and was even criticized for overshadowing them. However, the real test of her box office appeal with "Qiao Yan's Concerns" and "Sunflower" fell flat. In "Qiao Yan's Concerns," she engaged in an acting showdown with Xin Zhilei, while "Sunflower" was under the direction of famous director Feng Xiaogang. She even took on the role of producer, investing her salary into the film, but the audience seemed indifferent.
Originally, fans thought that after Zhao Liying won consecutive awards at the Golden Eagle and Feitian Festivals for "The Wind Blows Half Summer," her immediate move to the film industry would firmly establish her as the top actress among the '85 flowers', significantly distancing her from rivals Yang Mi, but the harsh box office numbers suggest she might have to return to the drama scene to continue competing with Yang Mi, Liu Shishi, Tang Yan, and Liu Yifei.