More than Blue (2018 film)

More than Blue
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese比悲傷更悲傷的故事
Simplified Chinese比悲伤更悲伤的故事
Literal meaningA Story Sadder Than Sadness
Hanyu Pinyinbǐ bēi shāng gèng bēi shāng de gù shì
Directed byGavin Lin
Written byHermes Lu
Gavin Lin
StarringJasper Liu
Ivy Chen
CinematographyKwan Pung-leung
Edited byChiang Yi-ning
Production
company
Distributed byifilm
20th Century Fox(Hong Kong)
Release dates
  • October 7, 2018 (2018-10-07) (Busan)
  • November 30, 2018 (2018-11-30) (Taiwan & Hongkong)
  • December 12, 2018 (2018-12-12) (Korea)
  • December 13, 2018 (2018-12-13) (Singapore)
  • December 27, 2018 (2018-12-27) (Malaysia)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryTaiwan
LanguageMandarin
Box officeUS$153 million

More than Blue (Chinese: 比悲傷更悲傷的故事) is a 2018 Taiwanese romance drama film directed by Gavin Lin. It is a remake of the 2009 South Korean film of the same name. The film stars Taiwanese actors like Jasper Liu and Ivy Chen. On November 30, 2018, it was released[1]

Synopsis

The film entails the story of a terminally ill man who sets up his best friend, whom he had loved since high school, so that she won't be alone after his death.[2]

Cream, who has a bright personality with a dark streak, somehow manages to bond with K, who is a generally secretive person. As high school classmates, they share their feelings, becomes close to one another, and fills the pit in their stomach. Cream moves into K's place and live like a family. Years go by, K works for a record company and Cream becomes a lyricist, but they still live together, neither a couple nor friends. Diagnosed with leukemia, K resents to reveal his diagnosis as he does not want to hurt Cream by leaving her alone. Not knowing any of this, Cream starts dating another man and as time went by, she accepted his marriage proposal.

Cast

Special appearance

  • Pipi Yao as Young Song Yuan-yuan (Cream)
  • Chih Tian-hsih as Young Chang Che-kai (K)
  • Emma Wu as Bonnie
  • Da Qing as Ji Ge
  • Bruce Hung as Ah Bang
  • A-Lin as herself
  • Heaven Hai as Maggie

Production

Filming began in January 2018.[3]

Reception

Busan Film Festival

The film received a warm response at its world premiere at the 23rd Busan International Film Festival open cinema category where tickets sold out within 5 minutes. Main cast Jasper Liu and Ivy Chen were awarded the "Face of Asia" prize by the film festival.[4]

Box Office

Domestically, the film made NT$32 million on the first 3 days, breaking the box office record of highest opening Taiwanese film in 2018.[5] The film eclipsed the NT$100 million mark within 9 days of release, breaking the box office speed record of hit Taiwanese film, Our Times which grossed NT$100 million in 10 days in 2015.[6] By the 11th day of release, the film made NT$135 million, attracting an audience of 580,000 admissions, becoming the highest-grossing Taiwanese film of 2018.[7] As of 17 February 2019, the film has grossed NT$239,577,835 (US$8,577,182) in Taiwan.[8]

In Hong Kong, it grossed HK$1.7 million by the first 3 days of opening, becoming the highest opening Taiwanese film in Hong Kong in recent 3 years.[9] By 11 December 2018, the film had made HK$8 million, staying in the top 5 box office rankings for a consecutive number of days. As of 30 December 2018, the film has grossed HK$17.12 million (US$2,203,346) in Hong Kong.[10]

In China, where it released on 14 March 2019, the film surpassed Captain Marvel at the box office,[11] grossing CN¥330 million (US$49.2 million) in its opening week.[12] Female audiences accounted for 65% of the tickets sold in its opening week.[11] As of 23 March 2019, More than Blue has grossed US$113.02 million in China.[13]

The film has also grossed US$709,965 in the United States and Canada,[14] US$194,100 in South Korea, and US$240,384 in Australia,[15] bringing its worldwide gross to US$123,070,854.

Sequel

In 2021, the movie received a television adaptation, More than Blue: The Series. It premiered on October 22, 2021 on Netflix[16]

References

  1. ^ "More than Blue: frustrating Taiwanese remake of melodrama". South China Morning Post. 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  2. ^ Lin, Gavin (2018-11-30), Bi bei shang geng bei shang de gu shi (Romance), MM2 Entertainment, Good Movie, Bossdom Digiinnovation Group, retrieved 2022-07-06
  3. ^ "國民男友改頭換面 轉性後招牌髮型也掰了". LTN. 2018-01-05.
  4. ^ 劉以豪、陳意涵全英文致詞 揚威南韓亞洲之星大賞, 2018.10.17 UDN
  5. ^ "全國電影票房2018年11/26-12/02統計資訊" (PDF). Taiwan Film Institute. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  6. ^ "《比悲傷》9天破億「超越《少女時代》速度」 全台哭到脫水:面紙帶不夠". Ettoday. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  7. ^ "《比悲傷》11天1.35億榮登「2018冠軍」!全台淚海:看完哭半小時". Ettoday. 2018-12-11.
  8. ^ "全國電影票房2019年02/011-2/17統計資訊" (PDF). 國家電影中心. 2019-02-21.
  9. ^ "《比悲傷》3天票房3000萬「2018國片冠軍」 已有觀眾5刷:哭到快往生". Ettoday. 2018-12-03.
  10. ^ "More Than Blue". EntGroup. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  11. ^ a b Wong, Silvia (2019-03-18). "Taiwanese tearjerker 'More Than Blue' knocks 'Captain Marvel' off the top of the China box office". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Romantic film 'More than Blue' tops China's box office - Chinadaily.com.cn". China Daily. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Daily Box Office > China". EntGroup. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  14. ^ "More than Blue (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Bi Bei Shang Geng Bei Shang De Gu Shi (2018) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  16. ^ "'More than Blue' on Netflix: 5 things you never knew about Gingle Wang | MEAWW". meaww.com. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-06.