How a box-office failure became a cornerstone of Chinese internet culture

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1995, a two-part film adaptation of Journey to the West flopped so badly it bankrupted its production company. Yet, it didn't die. Instead, it evolved into a massive cultural phenomenon, spawning memes and buzzwords that remain foundational to Chinese internet life today.

The series, directed by Jeffrey Lau and starring Stephen Chow, was a co-production between Chow's Choi Sing Film Company and Xi'an Film Studios. The production was famously chaotic; the Hong Kong crew spoke Cantonese while the Chinese crew spoke Mandarin, leading to significant communication barriers. Despite these hurdles, the films managed to bridge two different cinematic worlds, utilizing the remote Xi'an Studios which had previously been the home of prestigious Fifth Generation arthouse directors like Zhang Yimou.

Upon their release in early 1995, the films were met with lukewarm commercial and critical reception. Part One grossed approximately HK$25.1 million, while Part Two earned about HK$20.9 million in Hong Kong. The financial failure was severe enough to force the Choi Sing Film Company into bankruptcy. However, the narrative shifted in the 2000s as the films developed a massive cult following among young people in mainland China, eventually establishing Stephen Chow as a cultural icon.

The films' legacy is cemented by the 'Stephen Chow Phenomenon.' Specific lines, such as '10,000 years,' became ubiquitous buzzwords, reaching a Google search count of 21.9 million. The movies provided a foundational vocabulary for early Chinese internet culture, proving that a film's cultural staying power is often independent of its initial box-office success. While the production was a financial disaster, it became a long-term goldmine for Chow through licensing and advertising.

The story itself weaves a complex reincarnation myth. It follows the Monkey King, who was subdued 500 years ago, into a modern reincarnation as an outlaw named Joker. The plot involves time travel via 'Pandora's Box' to correct past tragedies, blending high-concept fantasy with the comedic style that defined Chow's career.

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