481-485

*Chapter 481: The Youth Market*

May 3rd, Friday.

"Spider-Man" officially premiered across the United States, marking the start of the 2002 summer blockbuster season.

The film opened in 3,615 theaters nationwide, making it the second-largest release in North American film history, just behind last year's summer hit, "Shrek." This represents the peak level of distribution resources in Hollywood, clearly demonstrating Sony Columbia's all-or-nothing approach.

At the same time, the entire Hollywood machine was in full swing.

Early in the morning, Jess Herold hadn't fully shaken off the effects of waking up, and coupled with the ridiculous task assigned to him, he was in a foul mood as he stormed out of his boss's office. He immediately spotted Alexander Port, who was standing nearby with a camera, looking just as miserable.

Jess paused. “Where's everyone else?”

Alexander gave an awkward smile and flexed his right arm, striking a Popeye pose. “I'm a one-man team.”

Jess: ...

It was so absurd that Jess couldn't help but burst out laughing. His anger had reached his chest but was swallowed down in the end.

At this moment, they were at the Fox TV morning news department—

Note, morning news, not entertainment news. This department is responsible for delivering all types of news every morning, primarily focusing on serious topics like politics, society, economics, and crime; though occasionally, it does cover entertainment news as well.

Morning news is fiercely competitive. NBC's "Today Show" and ABC's "Good Morning America" have been battling it out for years, constantly vying for the top spot. Various morning talk shows have carved out their own niche, maintaining a steady audience over the years.

Amidst all this, Fox TV has found its path, crafting more sensational, gossip-oriented, and eye-catching news.

If it sparks controversy?

Even better! That's exactly what they're after!

For this reason, Fox TV often reports on some rather unconventional news, not only bold but sometimes even thrilling and provocative.

Today was no different—

Fox TV had caught wind of some rumors and believed this year's summer season might be groundbreaking, much like when "Titanic" was released.

"Spider-Man" could either blow up the box office or fail spectacularly. Whether it was the former or the latter, they didn't want to miss the chance to witness history from the front row. Having missed the opportunity to witness "Titanic" make history, they weren't about to let this one slip by.

So, on a whim, they came up with an idea:

Head to the movie theaters and interview those who bought tickets for the Friday morning show.

This was a terrible idea, as evidenced by the lack of volunteers for the assignment. Otherwise, it wouldn't have fallen to Jess, the unlucky one.

Jess knew it must have been because of his previous stunt where he barged into Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign office, pressing the Hollywood action star on his policies for running for Governor of California, eventually cornering Arnold into a tight spot, which didn't bode well for his election image.

Although the TV station didn't say anything outright, they still had to give Arnold some sort of concession.

And so—

They were throwing Jess under the bus!

Even though the TV station liked that piece of news, they couldn't openly admit it and still needed a scapegoat. Jess just had to laugh at the irony.

Jess was well aware of Fox TV's sensationalist tactics, but the idea of interviewing Friday morning moviegoers was simply too foolish.

No offense to "Spider-Man"—Jess hoped the movie would do well, too. He had been watching the media reviews over the past 24 hours, which had sparked a heated discussion, making the box office prospects seem very promising.

The real issue was:

Interviewing at a premiere could be understandable, but a Friday morning screening? That's just awkward—

It's neither a Thursday midnight sneak peek nor a Friday or Saturday evening primetime show, making it an irrelevant time with no significant reference value.

Even for a summer blockbuster, no one would rush to the theater on a Friday morning. After waiting so long, why not wait a bit longer for a more suitable time?

Jess strongly suspected that when they arrived at the theater, they might find only a handful of people there, making it a true trainwreck.

Otherwise, why would all those news-hungry vultures in the TV station avoid this assignment like the plague? It wasn't just the reporters; even the camera crews dodged it, leaving only two unlucky souls to take the fall.

Damn!

Jess quietly told himself that completing a terrible assignment would mean he'd get to pick his topics next time, making it all a trade-off.

Shaking his head, Jess regained his composure. "No worries, no worries, let's just get this over with."

Alexander hoisted the camera onto his shoulder. “Where to?”

Jess had a headache. His temples started throbbing violently. No matter which theater they chose at this time, it would likely be the same. With a long sigh, he said, "Let's go to AMC Century City."

At least that place had a higher foot traffic, conveniently located near UCLA and USC. If young people not working on Friday wanted to catch a morning show, that would be a likely choice.

In a hurry, Jess led Alexander out.

...

Deep breath, and another deep breath.

However!

Blair still couldn't control her excitement. Just imagining it made her heart race wildly, as if it would burst out of her chest.

Finally, she had made it. Although it had only been less than 48 hours, the wait felt like centuries.

Turning her head, Blair saw Karen, both of their eyes sparkling with excitement. Without warning, Karen let out a piercing scream.

Ah, ahhh!

Blair blinked, following Karen's gaze. Despite her best efforts to hold back, she couldn't stop herself from screaming alongside Karen—

A life-size cutout.

A perfect one-to-one replica capturing Anson's tall figure and ideal proportions, with Spider-Man on the left and Peter Parker, carrying a backpack, on the right.

How could they not be excited?

Not just Blair and Karen, but there was already a small queue of girls in front of the cutout, all waiting for a photo.

Even if it was just a cutout, it was irresistibly charming—a must-see.

Karen looked at Blair. "I told you! I told you we should stay. Ahhh!"

Initially, after the premiere, they were supposed to return to New York and continue classes. After all, the movie would also be showing in New York, and watching it there would be more immersive since the movie was set in New York. However, Karen was reluctant to leave. Thinking that since they were already in Los Angeles, just attending the premiere and leaving would be too regrettable, she suggested staying a few more days to tour around.

After all, they were already here.

Blair agreed.

Indeed, it was a delightful surprise, an absolute surprise. They didn't even need to wait to enter the theater to see the movie; happiness was already bubbling over in their minds.

*Chapter 482: The First Signs of Frenzy*

New York has its own cinephile culture, with various underground film festivals that are quite dazzling.

However, overall, New York's movie enthusiasts have a certain threshold and are scattered throughout different corners of the city.

If it's a small indie film hosting a special screening, it's easy to gather a large group of cinephiles. But for special screenings of major commercial films, the turnout tends to be quite sparse.

That’s why Karen believed they should stay in Los Angeles—

And now, it seems that was a good idea.

"Ah!"

With a scream, it's easy to rally a group of like-minded companions.

Doing something as crazy as this alone would seem insane, but with support from friends, it feels normal. Gradually, others around them begin to join in, letting go of their rationality, and it turns into a trend—

Like taking pictures with the cardboard cutouts.

Thus, a scene of performance art unfolds at the cinema entrance.

Yawning while lining up, Karen couldn’t quite wrap her head around it, “Ugh, I have to protest against Sony Columbia. I’d rather watch the midnight screening than this early morning show. If it weren’t for Anson…”

Unexpectedly, her grumble sparked a reaction immediately.

“Exactly, why not arrange a midnight screening?”

“I’d have been more than happy to watch a midnight screening, but Sony Columbia didn’t give me the chance.”

“They’re probably still worried about the box office.”

Since the 1970s, the concept of a midnight screening has existed in North American theaters, specifically referring to films shown at midnight, but this culture hasn’t become mainstream yet. The news about commercial blockbusters breaking box office records with zero-hour midnight screenings is still just a concept for now.

Currently, there are mainly two types of movies that get a midnight screening:

One is genre films, such as romance, horror, westerns, and films restricted to viewers over eighteen, primarily catering to couples or specific audiences.

The other type is fan movies, like "Star Trek," which has a lot of die-hard fans but hasn’t achieved widespread popularity like "Star Wars."

In simple terms, these screenings are niche.

After all, the idea of watching a movie at midnight isn’t something that audiences in 2002, when the internet hadn’t fully developed, have much imagination for.

Naturally, big commercial blockbusters in the summer rarely use midnight screenings as a gimmick, which is why we’re seeing this scene now.

"Spider-Man" clearly isn't considered to have a fervent fanbase willing to rush to a midnight screening. Superhero comics are even labeled as a niche interest for nerds, so Sony Columbia worries that a midnight screening would be wasted effort—

As a result, a group of impatient, eager, and anxious viewers are forced to wake up early to come to the cinema for a morning show.

It's not just girls but also their boyfriends and, surprisingly, a small group of nerds who stand silently in line with their heads down, not daring to let their eyes wander.

In some ways, the morning show is even more ridiculous and bizarre than a midnight screening.

After all, staying up late is easier than getting up early.

However, when someone mentioned "worrying about the box office," everyone nodded in understanding.

Including Karen, who, despite her frustration, couldn’t argue against it.

Then, a voice burst out from the crowd.

“They underestimated us, didn’t they? Even if it’s just for Anson, I’m watching it three times!”

“No matter if the movie’s good or bad, I’m definitely not just watching it once.”

“Anson is worth it!”

“Oh my God, don’t you think Anson is simply perfect?”

“...Yeah, yeah, yeah, that Dior ad, I was just blown away by him, the kind that makes your legs weak. How can a man be so suave?”

“I’m here because of ‘The Tonight Show.’ Anson’s interaction with Jay Leno was so funny. I can’t remember the last time I saw such a hilarious show.”

“Street performance, oh my God, I went back and specifically looked up his street performances afterward...”

“Is nobody here because of ‘The Princess Diaries’? When Anson walked out of the crowd at the end—”

“Ahhhh! Ahhhh!”

Chicken calls filled the air uncontrollably. Every time someone brought up a topic, someone else would immediately follow up, one after another, making it impossible to keep up.

“By the way, does anyone have that ‘GQ’?”

“I was just about to ask the same thing.”

“It’s out of print.”

“What?”

“I specifically emailed ‘GQ’ asking to buy that issue with Anson in it, but they replied that it’s out of print and they won’t be reprinting it.”

“Oh, my heart! This is despair!”

“I saw someone on a forum selling it last time, priced at ninety-nine dollars. I didn’t dare to make a move, and then it was bought by someone else. I still regret it to this day.”

“My God, Anson wasn’t even on the cover in that issue. What’s going on?”

“But you have to admit, Anson’s shoot in that issue was really good, impossibly good-looking.”

“I haven’t seen it, so how would I know?”

Chatter and excitement filled the air, leaving everyone dazzled.

Suddenly, a whole new world opened up before Blair.

All along, Blair thought Anson was just an up-and-coming actor, and "Spider-Man" was his first leading role. It all seemed like a small circle, with only a handful of people recognizing him, much like a Manhattan street performance.

The "Spider-Man" premiere was the same, with just about twenty or so supporters led by Gloria. But to Blair’s surprise, there was a vast ocean of people outside her little world.

Turns out, there are more people who like Anson than she thought.

A sense of joy at finding comrades instantly filled her chest, the kind of excitement and happiness fluttering like butterfly wings, soaring into the sky.

Blair was still shocked to learn that the issue of “GQ” had already gone out of print and that some people were even seeking it at a high price on forums. This was yet another new world—

How could this be?

But unexpectedly, Karen chimed in, “There’s a scanned version on Yahoo now. Although it’s not very clear, you can save it on your computer.”

Blair looked at Karen in disbelief.

The surrounding crowd burst into discussion.

Karen also looked at Blair, smiling, “I also tried to buy a copy for myself, but couldn’t find one.”

Blair quickly covered her mouth: You, Karen, how could you not share such good news!

“What section on Yahoo?”

“Yeah, yeah, share it with us.”

In an instant, laughter and chatter once again filled the cinema entrance.

Jesse and Alexander, who had just arrived at the AMC theater, hadn’t quite realized what was happening yet. Sitting in the car, they looked out the window at the long queue with question marks all over their heads.

Alexander, being a straightforward guy, said, “Oh, could there be a big star here? Or are people lining up to buy popcorn?”

Jesse: ...

Jesse glanced at Alexander with a speechless look, “If you said AMC was holding a special summer screening promotion, buy one get one free, that’d make more sense.”

Alexander looked pleasantly surprised, “Really? How come I didn’t hear about it?”

Jesse was stumped for a moment, ignoring Alexander and looking out the window again, trying to think.

He confirmed that the "Spider-Man" crew didn’t have any post-screening meet-and-greet events scheduled in Los Angeles this week, so how to explain the crowd of people outside?

With a reporter's keen instincts, Jesse immediately grasped a possibility—

No way… right?

Jesse’s heart tightened as various speculations filled his mind, feeling nervous, excited, and confused all at once, completely at a loss.

Wait a minute, what exactly is going on here?

*Chapter 483: Awakening the Summer*

In a moment of impulse, Jesse tried to open the car door and rush out to start the interview immediately.

However, Alexander stopped him, "Be careful."

Careful?

Careful!

Was safety really the first thought that crossed his mind?

Watching Alexander, the honest man, seriously searching for a parking spot out of concern for getting a ticket, Jesse nearly choked on his breath.

"Whatever!"

"If we get a ticket, the TV station will cover it. I'll personally reimburse you!"

"We need to move fast!"

Alexander nodded repeatedly in agreement, but he still calmly parked the car, smoothly pulling into a spot. He then flashed Jesse a smile, "All set."

Jesse felt utterly defeated.

But there was no time to complain. He opened the car door and quickly walked toward the cinema. The grumpy demeanor he'd had at the TV station was gone, replaced with an intense drive, as he shifted into work mode in an instant.

They had already seen the scene from the car, but getting closer made it even more impressive—

A long line.

Literally.

The image of just a handful of people that Jesse had imagined was completely shattered.

The crowd stretched on and on. The entrance of the AMC cinema had a two-tiered staircase leading to a small plaza, and the queue snaked down from the entrance, winding its way through the plaza.

At a glance, even if there weren’t a thousand people, there were at least five hundred.

The sight was astonishing, overturning all preconceived notions.

But why?

Jesse even began to question his life; he felt like he might need a cigarette.

Jesse turned to Alexander, "Notify the station, this is top-priority news. Immediately!"

Then, without waiting for Alexander to start the camera, Jesse forged ahead, conducting quick interviews to get a basic understanding of the situation. His brain was in overdrive as he began to form the live news report.

Clearly, North America wasn't prepared—

What does that mean?

Even Fox Television itself hadn’t anticipated that a casually conceived plan, just a trial balloon, would unexpectedly become the first media outlet to capture the season's first movie-watching frenzy.

People were completely caught off guard.

As previously mentioned, this was the first summer movie season since 9/11. The entire market was in a slump, with the box office prospects shrouded in uncertainty. It wasn’t just the film industry; a ripple effect could influence various economic activities, drawing attention from other sectors as well.

However, no one could predict the future.

Do your best and leave the rest to fate.

Now, the summer season had finally begun.

The key point was that even without the impact of recent events, summer blockbusters would still struggle to draw such a crowd for a Friday morning show. The scene unfolding before them had taken everyone by surprise.

So—

Had the pent-up energy finally been released after all this time?

It wasn’t just the film companies; audiences, too, had been waiting for a chance to shake off the gloom and return to normal life. Now that the opportunity had arrived, people seized it, which explained the outpouring of enthusiasm.

Or was there another reason?

—Anson.

Based on Jesse's initial interviews, a star was being born.

It wasn’t just one cinema; Jesse visited five in total. While the crowds varied, and not every cinema was as packed, the Century City AMC had attracted a massive crowd due to its prime location near young students, creating a spectacular scene. But even in different cinemas, there were still lines.

In any case, it was far from deserted.

Audiences of various demographics and backgrounds at different cinemas all mentioned one unexpected but reasonable answer:

Anson Wood.

Perhaps it was Paris Fashion Week, "The Tonight Show," "The Princess Diaries," rumors involving Matt Damon and Tom Cruise, performances on the streets of Manhattan, a feature in "Vogue," or the Dior advertisement...

Over the past six months, Anson's influence had gradually built up, drop by drop, grain by grain, finally exploding with the overwhelming promotion of "Spider-Man," driving curiosity to its peak.

At this time, there was no concept of "traffic," but without a doubt, Anson's exposure in recent months was comparable to that of a top star. People discussed his modeling, music, and charisma, yet curiously, they hadn't focused much on his acting. Whether they liked him or hated him, everyone was waiting for a chance:

Was Anson the real deal? Time to find out.

Ultimately, the catalyst for this chemical reaction was the media reviews following the premiere.

In truth, only insiders in Hollywood paid attention to those critical reviews. The general public usually didn’t look up every media review, but they did see the high ratings from authoritative outlets like the "Los Angeles Times" and "The New York Times." The universal praise from other news outlets piqued their curiosity to its peak.

Perhaps, they shouldn’t miss this.

Heading to the cinema early on Friday morning was both an expression of long-repressed enthusiasm for entertainment and a response to the unprecedented focus on Anson—

This morning, those lining up at the cinema weren’t just fans; there were also detractors.

"…Viewers, I just waited in line for thirty minutes and finally got two movie tickets."

Jesse stood in front of the camera, showing the audience the tickets in his hand.

"I arrived before the cinema opened, but I could only buy tickets for the 1:30 PM show. All earlier showings are sold out."

"So, when predicting the opening weekend box office for 'Spider-Man,' perhaps we can be a little more daring?"

With that, Jesse wrapped up his live report.

The director's voice came through his earpiece, "Cut!" Jesse couldn’t help but cheer, pumping his fist.

Who would have thought that a story no one wanted to cover would turn into a massive hit—

The word from the studio was that the segment's live ratings had nearly matched those of the morning show king, "Today." The entire Fox Television station was buzzing with excitement.

It seemed that "Spider-Man" was a gold mine.

Jesse took a deep breath and called to Alexander, "Let's go watch the movie."

Alexander was puzzled, "Weren't you just saying you weren’t interested?"

Jesse didn’t mind, "That was because I didn’t realize Anson’s power. Now that I do, we need to keep up."

Fox had set the pace, and other networks quickly followed suit—

NBC, ABC, CBS, the big public networks might not want to follow in Fox’s footsteps, but local stations across the states were more than happy to jump on the bandwagon.

What they discovered was astonishing.

Los Angeles was just the tip of the iceberg. New York, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, and other cities were all experiencing varying degrees of a craze. The "Spider-Man" frenzy was sweeping across North America.

Fox Television: "After a long wait, the summer season finally shines again, and Peter Parker’s charm has brought audiences back to the theaters! Unbelievable!"

*Chapter 484: Breaking the Ice*

The buzz is spreading!

“…A storm is brewing…”

“‘Spider-Man’ hits theaters…”

“…Everyone is talking about Anson Wood.”

“Did you go to the movies today?”

“Summer has finally arrived!”

Snippets of conversations from different TV shows, radio stations, newspapers, and bustling street corners all connect back to the summer blockbuster season, forming a massive puzzle. It shows that the movie market, after a long slump, is finally coming back to life.

It's heating up!

The long lines at the early Friday screenings were just the beginning. With live coverage by Fox TV, the excitement quickly swept across North America. Jesse immediately followed up with in-depth reports, thoroughly examining the revival of the summer box office, sparking widespread discussion.

"Spider-Man" spread like wildfire among the youth.

It’s not because Peter Parker represents teenagers, nor because the movie focuses on coming-of-age themes, nor because it tells an unconventional love story, nor because Anson has become the idol of countless young girls—

Of course, all these reasons laid the foundation for the current wave of excitement; but the real reason is the trend.

“Have you seen ‘Spider-Man’?”

“Yeah, yeah, that kiss was so romantic.”

“The ending of the movie broke my heart.”

“Oh, I didn’t like it.”

“But why?”

“It’s still just a superhero movie, nothing special.”

Everyone is talking about this movie, whether they like it or hate it, they’re eager to share their opinions. Even those who pride themselves on being different use “I have no interest in watching this movie” to assert their uniqueness. The movie has become an essential cultural marker for teenagers.

If you haven’t seen it, you’re out of the loop.

When friends excitedly dive into discussions, falling behind could make you an outsider—no teenager wants to be left out.

And so, the movie spread rapidly among teenagers.

This was something Sony Columbia never anticipated during the promotional planning—

From the start, Sam Raimi planned the movie as a teen school film, and Sony Columbia focused their marketing on the youth market. However, considering that the original comic had been labeled as a niche subculture and given the limited purchasing power of teenagers, they didn’t dare to hope for too much.

The result?

A complete explosion.

The heat of Friday continued to build into Saturday, as countless TV and radio shows joined the discussion. North American theaters finally saw a long-overdue surge of enthusiasm.

Finally!

The moment of breaking the ice had arrived!

The long-awaited moment finally came. Century City erupted in cheers, people exchanging incredulous glances, eyes shining with disbelief—

Did it actually work? Sony Columbia?

Surprising, absolutely surprising.

Of course, not everyone was eager to applaud Sony Columbia.

For example, 20th Century Fox, the production and distribution company behind "Star Wars: Episode II."

This summer, 20th Century Fox had the right to compete for the first weekend of the season. If they had insisted, Sony Columbia certainly wouldn’t have dared to clash head-on, especially since it was the first-rate blockbuster "Star Wars."

However, while Sony Columbia was treading carefully, so was 20th Century Fox. After several discussions, they decided they didn’t want to be the first to lead the charge:

“We don’t want to sacrifice ourselves to pave the way for the scavengers following close behind.”

So, after a brief test, Sony Columbia announced their release date, becoming the first brave warrior to kick off the summer season.

And now?

Watching “Spider-Man” surrounded by a frenzy of attention, the entire North American market is praising the movie for its courage and responsibility, boldly taking on the task of reviving the box office. This is the true superhero, leaving 20th Century Fox bleeding from the inside.

They had hoped to sit back and enjoy watching Sony Columbia fail, but instead, they became the joke, leaving 20th Century Fox seriously wounded.

But what can they do?

Risk-taking is just like that—the greater the risk, the more severe the potential losses, but also the greater the possible rewards. Ultimately, victory usually belongs to those with courage and vision.

20th Century Fox had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill.

However, no matter what, the fact that the North American box office market has thawed and regained its passion is a good thing. At the very least, it means the summer season switch has been flipped back on—

Maybe the “Spider-Man” frenzy is just a warm-up, laying the foundation for “Star Wars: Episode II” to fully ignite the box office. The battle isn’t over yet; the true winner is the one who laughs last.

On one side, 20th Century Fox rallied, launching an aggressive advertising campaign to dominate mainstream market attention.

On the other side, the heat around “Spider-Man” remained unabated. Amidst the boiling enthusiasm, Hollywood was eager to discuss the next question:

How high should expectations be?

More specifically, what level could the opening weekend box office reach?

First, the movie market has been suppressed for a long time, and now that the energy has finally exploded, could this lead to a massive rebound and trigger a wave of summer blockbusters?

Second, all the negative factors that initially dampened expectations for “Spider-Man” seem irrelevant now. After witnessing the unimaginable frenzy on Friday, the reactions from critics and audiences far exceeded expectations. Does this mean the box office potential could break predictions?

So, could the opening weekend box office set a new record?

Even 20th Century Fox was paying close attention, watching the situation unfold.

As of the 2002 summer season, the North American box office market showed a slow but steady upward trend, though the pace of growth had noticeably slowed, hinting at a bottleneck; however, all the major film companies knew this was just an illusion.

After witnessing the box office numbers of "Titanic," everyone knew the market had untapped potential, but no movie had since been able to replicate that global box office phenomenon.

In recent years, opening weekend box office numbers have been the benchmark.

Currently, the historical record for North American opening weekend box office belongs to last November’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

This film, amidst immense anticipation, pulled in $91 million in its opening three days, claiming the title of the highest-grossing debut.

Strictly speaking, this movie was the first post-9/11 film to successfully draw audiences back to theaters, reigniting the market’s energy after two months of stagnation, and setting a new historical record.

At the time, people thought the movie market had recovered, but they didn’t expect that the success of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was just a brief spark. The highly anticipated “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” only managed to pull in $48 million on its opening weekend, shocking everyone.

This is why all of Hollywood had to turn its attention to the following summer, hoping that the season would rekindle the market’s passion.

Market patterns seemed visible but still required exploration. The opening weekend box office for "Spider-Man" became the focus of heated debate.

*Chapter 485: Premiere Predictions*

In 2001, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" made history by surpassing $90 million at the North American box office during its opening weekend. This achievement caught the attention of not only Hollywood but also the global film industry.

Before that, the previous record-holder for the highest-grossing North American opening weekend was "Jurassic Park 3," released in the summer of 1997. Despite a wave of negative reviews, it grossed $72 million in its first weekend, proving the power of franchise films once again.

In other words, it took four years for the record to jump from the $70 million range to the $90 million mark. During that period, no other film managed to reach $70 million on its opening weekend.

Simply put, the average opening weekend gross for top-tier films in the North American market remained steady at around $50 million. It was a rare feat to break the $60 million ceiling.

It was against this backdrop that this summer's movie season slowly unfolded.

"Spider-Man" and "Star Wars: Episode II" were both highly anticipated, with Hollywood expecting these films to ignite the box office. Now, with "Spider-Man" smashing expectations, the big question is: what will its opening weekend numbers look like?

$90 million?

If we compare it to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which also came with a niche appeal, a low-key release, and immense pressure, $90 million seems like a reasonable prediction.

Or perhaps $80 million?

While expectations are high, "Spider-Man" is in a slightly different situation. Tobey Maguire isn't a megastar, and the original comic isn't as popular as Harry Potter, so maybe expectations should be tempered.

At least $70 million?

To put things into perspective, only two films in North American history have crossed the $70 million mark on their opening weekend. Just reaching this level would be impressive, and "Spider-Man" should have no problem achieving that, right?

Wait, could it be $60 million?

Sure, that's a strong number and would make it stand out during the summer, but such a performance wouldn't be enough to reignite the summer box office. It would also be a disappointment compared to the Friday-Saturday viewing frenzy.

Amid the bustling discussions, experts offered a range of predictions, from pessimistic to optimistic, and everything in between. Then, someone boldly suggested a possibility—

Maybe $100 million?

To be fair, it wasn't a reckless suggestion. After all, last year, two films broke the $90 million barrier, so naturally, the next milestone would be $100 million. It’s the elephant in the room—everyone sees it, but no one wants to mention it.

It's not that they don't want it to happen; it's just that the anticipation is so intense that they dare not speak it aloud.

Since "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" shattered the $70 million threshold and pushed it up to $90 million, Hollywood has been buzzing with excitement, with everyone proclaiming that the "opening weekend $100 million" era is just around the corner.

But while the dream is enticing, reality is harsh. "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" doused the excitement with a bucket of cold water.

Having witnessed the long journey from "Jurassic Park 3" to "Harry Potter," industry insiders know how difficult and monumental a $100 million opening is. It’s like reaching for the stars—a goal that might require the perfect alignment of circumstances to achieve.

So, "Spider-Man"?

It's unrealistic to say that no one mentioned it, but after a brief mention, the idea was quickly met with doubt and dismissal. A $100 million opening is still too difficult. If any film could achieve it, "Star Wars: Episode II" would be the more likely candidate.

The ideal scenario would be for "Spider-Man" to break the $90 million barrier again, and for "Star Wars: Episode II" to then climb higher and break the $100 million threshold, making history.

Of course, even "Star Wars: Episode II" will likely face many challenges. The more likely scenario is that both "Spider-Man" and "Star Wars: Episode II" will land in the $90 million range, leaving the historic $100 million opening for another time.

The debates and predictions continued to collide.

In fact, the prevailing professional opinion was that "Spider-Man" would land around $80 million, despite the positive reviews and the weekend's viewing frenzy. The film's inherent limitations kept expert predictions more conservative—

On one hand, they felt the film couldn't compare to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." On the other hand, they also believed it couldn't match up to "Star Wars: Episode II."

However, regardless of the differing opinions and stances, one undeniable fact remained: "Spider-Man" dominated discussions and attention, even to the point where predictions about its opening weekend became the focal point of major media outlets.

Friday: Heatwave.

Saturday: Frenzy.

Sunday: Party.

In the blink of an eye, before anyone had time to fully enjoy it, the weekend slipped through their fingers, and Monday arrived.

“Ugh, ughhh!”

Mrs. Preston paused her breakfast preparations, looking up at the second floor with exasperation. Before she could say anything, the sound of rapid footsteps descending the stairs filled the house, making everything tremble. Her heart raced along with those hurried steps.

“Slow down! Slow down!” Mrs. Preston scolded, shaking her head. “The alarm rang twice, and I called you twice, but you just love to stay in bed. Now you're worried about being late?”

Gloria didn't hear her mother's words, and even if she had, she had no time to argue. She burst into the kitchen, exclaiming, “Where's the paper? Mom, where’s the paper?”

Without waiting for a response, Gloria found the Los Angeles Times on the table and immediately flipped to page six, where the weekly North American box office rankings were listed.

And then Gloria froze.

Mrs. Preston sighed, thinking her daughter was worried about being late. But instead, the little girl wasn’t concerned about school at all. As a mother, she felt the need to scold her daughter, but seeing her expression, she couldn’t help but worry.

She knew Gloria was invested in "Spider-Man’s" box office. The past week had been filled with endless chatter about Anson, and Gloria had even organized a group of friends to attend the film's premiere.

And now, on Monday morning, the first thing Gloria did was check the Los Angeles Times for the box office numbers. If only she showed the same enthusiasm for her studies...

But seeing Gloria's expression now, could it be that the box office numbers weren't as good as expected?

Mrs. Preston knew her daughter well—Gloria usually had a fleeting interest in things. The fact that she had been infatuated with this Anson for over a year was surprising. It seemed like she truly cared.

Mrs. Preston hurried into the dining room. “You should think about it this way: the reviews were great, so the box office will likely grow over time. Besides, didn’t you help promote the movie? Everyone at your school must have seen it, right?”

Suddenly, Gloria looked up and shouted excitedly—

“One hundred million dollars!”

“Mom, ‘Spider-Man’ grossed over $100 million on its opening weekend!”