Even in the face of the nearly doubled box office on the second day, no matter how many reasons the media listed, it couldn't change the fact that all the things they had said the day before had become a joke. Did they say she was facing Waterloo? Did they claim she had stumbled into a major setback? Hahaha!
Spectators and Laila's fans were all amused. While they couldn't express their voices in newspapers or on television, they had the internet. Online, they could freely express their thoughts and post their reactions to the movie without having to listen to the absurdities of entertainment newspapers and critics.
Thus, the word-of-mouth for "Rush Hour" spread once again. Of course, there were Laila's devoted fans who further amplified its popularity, but one couldn't deny that they indeed had a basis for their praise. It was a good movie, one that brought happiness upon watching—what more was needed?
After watching the film, Horton immediately logged onto the familiar movie forum. There, a sub-forum exclusively dedicated to Laila existed, and many of her fans gathered there to share their thoughts.
Thanks to his public support of Laila on a TV show, Horton had become a staunch fan acknowledged by the majority of the "Witch" fans (as Laila's fans were called). He had even been recommended as one of the moderators for this sub-forum.
Many knew he held a ticket to the premiere and that he was fortunate enough to watch the movie firsthand. As a result, quite several people gathered outside the forum early in the morning, waiting for his immediate feedback.
And Horton lived up to the expectations by posting his thoughts, words that conveyed his excitement and awe.
"I admit I went for Laila's sake. Although I didn't believe she'd make a terrible film, I did have some concerns about her ability to create a classic movie as good as her horror ones. But as the movie began and the laughter from the audience echoed around me, and as I felt the corners of my mouth involuntarily curling into a smile, I knew she had succeeded once again. She had successfully embraced a new genre in filmmaking."
"Many might have shared my skepticism about her ability to make action films, but I assure you, nobody would regret watching this one. I witnessed a new side of Laila and sensed her ambition. I believe action films are far from being the last genre she will explore. Perhaps in the near future, we'll see her bring even more diverse movies to us!"
"I remember the first time I watched 'The Witch Blair,' her earlier work. I marveled at how movies could be made like that. After watching 'Rush Hour,' I had the same thought: movies can be made like this, even for action!"
"It's hard to believe, but when I saw the characters soaring through the air, I could almost feel their mystical kung fu propelling them, and there was even a moment when I felt like I was soaring with them. During the chase scenes and the rapidly shifting shots, I was able to strongly feel the tense atmosphere that the film created. In short, if you're still undecided about whether to watch it, you absolutely should give it a try, because you'll surely fall in love with it!"
At the same time, beneath the post, he attached two photos as evidence of his presence at the premiere: one captured Laila elegantly waving to fans after an interview outside the cinema, and the other showed her talking to Jackie Chan inside the cinema.
Within minutes of posting, his thread had garnered thousands of clicks and over a dozen replies. As time passed, the number of replies continued to increase. Some envied and admired his chance to be so close to Laila, while others questioned if the movie was truly as good as he claimed.
Horton swiftly responded to the first skeptic, stating that if they watched the movie and felt regret afterward, they were welcome to come and confront him.
In the end, no one knew exactly how many people read his post, but it was certain that many were swayed by his words and decided to watch the movie.
Similar posts spread across the internet, encouraging many hesitant individuals to give the movie a shot and see if it truly lived up to the praise.
It could be said that the dramatic increase in box office on the second day for "Rush Hour" wasn't just because the movie was good. It was also due to the passionate support of Laila's fans, even in places she couldn't see.
But could she really not see it?
As someone who had adapted to the convenience brought about by the advanced technology of the future, how could Laila possibly abandon the internet—a place that had so much to offer? Especially for that large forum where Horton had posted, she would often visit to gauge her fans' thoughts and comments. Therefore, on the day the post came out, she had already seen it.
Through the post, she saw a fan's selfless adoration for her, which brought her immense joy. No one could resist the warmth of others acknowledging their efforts, especially when their hard work had been recognized.
And on the third day, the box office for "Rush Hour" increased once again, reaching a staggering $14.62 million!
This was an incredible number—nobody could have predicted that after the initial $4.2 million on the first day, the box office would surge by over $10 million on the third day.
When this number was calculated, Laila smiled, Jackie Chan smiled, and the investors at New Line Cinema smiled. After the first day's box office had been revealed, they had all prepared for failure and planned to focus on the production and release of the CD after making some money in the East. Even if they didn't make much, they likely wouldn't lose money.
Yet, this happiness had unexpectedly landed right on their unsuspecting heads. The three-day total box office surpassed 27 million, narrowly securing the weekly box office championship!
For a summer release, this achievement might be only average, but considering the timing—most major releases had already hit the screens, and there were no strong contenders among the new movies—achieving the weekly box office championship was akin to a miracle!
It was an outstanding accomplishment, especially remarkable when attributed to Laila. It could be described as incredible, for she was among the few directors who consistently secured the weekly box office crown with each of her films.
Even top-tier directors struggled to attain such blinding achievements. Everyone had to start from the basics and work their way up. Some directors even had to work part-time jobs to make their first film, relying on colleagues and friends to help with the shoot. It was difficult to fathom how challenging it was to achieve a box office championship in such primitive conditions.
Laila was no exception. She didn't want to ask her family for money, so she made her first movie with less than a hundred thousand Dollars. Yet, compared to other directors, she was fortunate. Her debut film had created a miracle!