How a Chinese romantic comedy shattered global box office records in 2016
In short: Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid became a cultural phenomenon, blending slapstick humor with an environmental message. By shunning traditional marketing and keeping the plot a secret, Chow turned a simple fairy tale into the highest-grossing Chinese film of its time, proving that audiences crave both absurdity and heart in their blockbusters.
Released on 8 February 2016, The Mermaid tells the story of Liu Xuan, a property tycoon whose land reclamation project threatens a coastal wildlife reserve. Unknown to him, this area is the last sanctuary for a group of merpeople. They send a young mermaid named Shan to assassinate him, but the two unexpectedly fall in love. The film draws inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, yet Chow reimagines it through the lens of his own childhood fascination with the sea and a desire to see good triumph over evil.
The production was shrouded in secrecy, with Chow employing a 'hunger marketing' strategy that prevented critics and theater managers from seeing the film before its release. This mystery, combined with high anticipation, helped the film set numerous records, including the biggest opening week in Chinese history at the time. It became the first film to join China’s 'three-billion-yuan club' and held the title of the highest-grossing Chinese film until 2017. Its success was not limited to the mainland; it also set records for limited-release Chinese films in the United States.
Casting was a rigorous, highly publicized process. Lin Yun, then 18, was selected from over 120,000 contestants, chosen for her calm demeanor during a talent search. The film’s production was equally demanding, with reports that some scenes were shot over 50 times to meet Chow’s exacting standards. Despite the pressure, the film received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its unique blend of farcical comedy and sincere, resonant messaging about love and environmental protection.
Beyond the screen, the film’s financial structure relied on a 'box office guarantee' model, a common practice in the Chinese industry that secures production interests while signaling confidence in a film's performance. While it faced hurdles elsewhere—such as being excluded from the Taiwanese market due to quota regulations—The Mermaid remains a landmark in global cinema, demonstrating the power of a director’s singular, childlike vision to captivate millions.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Mermaid (2016 film)
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