It was madness, absolute madness.
Even though Entertainment Weekly had given it a dismal 38 points, it couldn't stop "Fast 5" from making history. After the premiere, the combined ratings from 43 professional media outlets were hot off the press, reaching a staggering 73 points! A stunning 73 points! Was this madness or something else? The entire world had gone mad!
73 points—it wasn't just the highest rating in the series but also the first time the series had crossed the pass mark by a long shot in media reviews. What's more, even among similar films, this score placed it at the forefront.
"Speed" had a media review score of 78, while "Cars" had 73 points. As a side note, "Iron Man" had a media review score of 79, but the score for the second installment dropped to 57.
After making comparisons, it became clear that "Fast 5" had not only shaken off the shadow of B-movies but had also joined the ranks of commercial successes. Perhaps it couldn't be called a classic, but it was undoubtedly an outstanding work. For a series of films, this was a true transformation, a rebirth.
This opening battle of the summer season, from the initial lopsided competition where industry insiders didn't even consider them in the same league, had gradually evolved to the point where, with "Fast 5" receiving a 73-point media review and positive audience feedback after the premiere, the outcome was becoming increasingly unpredictable. Such a dramatic change happened all too quickly and fiercely.
What was more important was that from industry giants like Variety and Hollywood Reporter to top North American media like Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, and even professional magazines like The Village Voice, they all mentioned "Renly Hall".
Inexplicable! Unbelievable! Mysterious and beyond comprehension!
One could argue that, thanks to recent publicity, people's attention naturally focused on Renly. They were curious about his performance. Or it could be that after the ups and downs of the past few months, Renly, who had received his first Oscar nomination, was no longer an unknown.
But no matter how you explained it, the fact remained. No one could deny Renly's excellence. In a limited space and time, he had breathed vibrant life into the character of Hobbs, sparking real chemistry with the plot. He had become one of the biggest highlights of "Fast 5".
This young actor who had secured his place in Hollywood with "The Pacific" and "Buried" continued his strong performance in commercial productions. With his well-measured acting, powerful image, and agile physicality, he exuded a magical charm that shone brightly on the summer screen that was about to arrive.
Although such situations were indeed rare, they were not impossible in Hollywood.
For instance, after "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" was released, the real standout was the mermaid and the character played by Sam Claflin. Similarly, in "X-Men", Deadpool unexpectedly gained fame, making Ryan Reynolds a star. And then in "The Lord of the Rings" series, there was the elven prince, Orlando Bloom, who became a global sensation despite limited screen time.
This time, as the third lead in "Fast 5", Renly successfully stole the limelight from the two absolute male leads, earning yet another accolade from the media. For a newcomer, for a young actor with only three films under his belt, it was an unparalleled honor.
"Renly vs. Chris" and "Renly vs. Natalie", originally these matchups wouldn't hold water. Now, however, the situation had taken an unexpected turn, and a tense atmosphere began to fill the air.
Although Renly was only the third lead in "Fast 5", while Chris was the male lead in "Thor", their screen time was clearly uneven. Yet, Renly had become the most talked-about character in the film, while Chris's ability to infuse his superhero role with more personal charm and character like Robert Downey Jr. was still an unknown.
Although Renly's body of work was still relatively small, Natalie was a seasoned Hollywood professional who had been in the industry for over a decade, and their capabilities and achievements were incomparable. But Renly had an impeccable success rate in his recent projects, and the question remained whether Natalie could break free from the stereotype of a decorative female character in superhero films and stand out. This was still an unknown.
In other words, in these two showdowns, Renly had turned in an impressive performance, not only holding his ground but possibly having the upper hand. So, how would Chris perform? What kind of performance would Natalie deliver?
The opening battle had truly arrived, and this was probably the only thought on everyone's minds. Even if it seemed impossible, it was happening.
Faced with the astonishing success of "Fast 5", how would "Thor" respond?
Chris Hemsworth, who was currently carrying out his daily running routine, was once again surrounded by reporters. However, this time, he appeared calm and composed, with a radiant smile, golden hair, and glistening sweat, making him look like the God of Thunder, Thor, descending from the heavens, exuding irresistible charm.
"Yeah, I heard about it. I haven't had a chance to read the newspapers yet, but I heard. It's great news, congratulations!" When the reporter mentioned that "Fast 5" had received unanimous acclaim from the media, Chris wiped the sweat from his forehead and responded with a smile, "To be honest, I'm feeling a bit conflicted right now. On one hand, I'm excited and looking forward to the film's premiere and its potential box office success. But on the other hand, I'm a bit worried. If their box office performance is too outstanding, our pressure will suddenly increase, and that wouldn't be good."
Witty and humorous, tactful in his approach. In just a few weeks, Chris had undergone a transformation.
Today's interview was as expected, with Morgan Fisher meticulously briefing him on every detail. Chris wouldn't make any mistakes, not even with that charming smile that he had practiced countless times.
The reporter then provocatively posed a pointed question, "Can you beat Renly?"
Chris didn't panic; instead, he chuckled, "A rivalry between men can only be proven through action. May the stronger man win."
Emphasizing fairness, male camaraderie, and the testament of strength, stripping away all the entanglements, he displayed a confident yet unassuming demeanor. This was the image strategy Morgan had devised for Chris, and so far, he was executing it perfectly.
"So, what's your take on the "scriptgate"? Have you had any communication with Renly?" Of course, the reporter wasn't going to make it easy for Chris; the questions were as cunning as ever.
Chris's defense remained as solid as ever. "I thought we agreed not to sensationalize this anymore. Real men settle their scores through strength."
A casually dismissive statement, neither admitting nor denying anything, and not even giving a direct response. He simply used the word "sensationalize" and then returned to his core stance. After saying this, Chris didn't give the reporters any more time to continue questioning. He briskly walked back to his apartment.
Morgan knew very well that verbal acrobatics were for sensationalism, but victory was determined by box office numbers. With things having progressed to this point, all those shady tactics could be temporarily set aside. The focus should be on promoting "Thor" wholeheartedly, ensuring that the box office would cross the hundred-million mark during the opening weekend; that was the main priority.
Chris understood this, and so did Paramount. The "Thor" team wouldn't easily get embroiled in another whirlwind. The reporters' schemes would fall flat this time.
The next day, major news outlets reported, "Chris Hemsworth is determined to win!"
Following the spectacular media reviews of "Fast 5", the strength of both sides in the opening battle drew closer. For "Thor", this was naturally not good news. However, for the reporters, it was nothing short of perfect.
As spectators, what they needed wasn't a one-sided competition but a war, a heated and intense battle! The more intense, the better. The closer it got, the better, because that meant more excitement, more explosive moments, more news, and, of course, higher sales.
Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures were both actively fueling the flames behind the scenes, with no intention of giving in.
Universal Pictures released three different behind-the-scenes clips on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for three consecutive days, continuously adding to the excitement surrounding "Fast 5". Following the success of the premiere, they even released a special feature on Renly, featuring humorous bloopers of Renly making mistakes on set, shamelessly starting to attract more fans.
Paramount, on the other hand, took advantage of the situation to release the final trailer for "Thor". Simultaneously, they arranged for Chris, Natalie, and Anthony to appear on a late-night talk show. They also organized an internal screening for the "Iron Man", "Thor", and "Captain America" teams, spreading rumors of positive reviews throughout Hollywood. It was clear that Paramount had officially entered the sprint phase of movie promotion.
Starting from Wednesday, the entire North American market experienced an unprecedented frenzy. It wasn't the summer season, but it outperformed the summer season. In the first week of the summer season in previous years, such a commotion had never occurred. In a daze, people had completely forgotten that this was still the last week of the spring season, and the scorching summer heat had arrived a week ahead of schedule.
However, so far, it was only the premiere, with the only assessment criterion being the media reviews. To see how things would unfold, people would have to wait for the Friday premiere and personally step into the movie theaters to find out the answers.
The opening battle was poised and ready!