Incredible Success of Chinese Film “Hot and Spicy” at Spring Festival Box Office
The Chinese film market’s box office revenue during the Spring Festival period broke records, reaching 8.016 billion yuan (approximately 1.111 billion U.S. dollars). Among the top performers was the comedy film “Hot and Spicy,” directed and starring Chinese actress Jia Ling, which became the champion of the Spring Festival period with an impressive box office of 2.72 billion yuan (approximately US$378 million).
The film is a remake of the 2014 Japanese hit film “100 Yuan Love” and tells the story of a 30-year-old woman who transforms her life through boxing practice, losing over 100 pounds in the process. The film’s success has sparked heated discussions, as it surpassed other major releases during the Spring Festival period.
Assistant professor of cultural studies at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Chen Chi-ting, attributes the film’s success to Jia Ling’s previous image in the public’s eye, coupled with Chinese audiences’ psychological demand for “comedies, inspirational films, and heroine types.” Furthermore, the powerful short video marketing of the film was successful in touching the audience’s emotions.
Anthropologist Lin Zhenru also points out that the film’s popularity is due to its presentation of the female perspective, inspiring women to “love themselves” and stand up against societal expectations. On the other hand, Professor Ling, who teaches media and gender, asserts that while the film accurately portrays the independence of Chinese women today, it also conforms to the “individualism” and “atomization” prevalent in the capital market.
The film has also stirred debates around body positivity and stereotyped beauty standards. Despite director Jia Ling emphasizing that the film is not about weight loss, critics argue that the commercial success of the film is still closely related to its marketing as the audience follows Jia Ling’s “transformation” process, thus perpetuating rigid aesthetics.
While the film has received praise for its positive messages, it also shines a light on the dichotomy between the promotion of “body positivity” and the persistence of the beauty and slimming industry. Despite the film’s financial success, its impact on the collective psyche and body image of the audience remains a topic of debate.
As the commercial development of “Hot and Spicy” continues, the film has proven to not only be a hit at the box office but also has potential far-reaching effects in terms of societal conversations around body image and self-acceptance.