471-475

*Chapter 471: Uneasy and Anxious*

“I wasn’t peeking, really.”

Even though nothing was actually happening, being caught at such an odd moment made Ryan feel strangely guilty. He was left utterly speechless.

His reflexive denial came out, but why did it feel so awkward after he said it?

Ryan couldn't help but scratch his head.

Compared to Ryan's awkwardness, Anson remained much calmer, his face completely serene. "It’s no big deal if you were peeking. I’m used to it by now."

That’s it?

Ryan: …

Ryan quickly realized he was overreacting and couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head lightly as he patted the steering wheel. “Damn, you really got me there. To be honest, it’s not the first time, is it?”

Anson looked completely at ease—sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

A smile crept across Ryan’s face, “Since you’re still in the mood to joke around, I guess my earlier worries were completely unnecessary.”

“Well, you’re already the lead in a blockbuster, while I’m still just a bit player in indie films. So, who should really be worried about whom, right?”

Anson glanced at Ryan, “Is that an attack?”

Ryan felt a bit sheepish, his neck muscles tensing slightly, “Too weak?”

Anson waved it off with a casual hand gesture, “Didn’t feel a thing.”

Ryan pretended to be frustrated, “Looks like I need to try harder.” He even clenched his fist, silently cheering himself on, lightening the mood immediately.

Anson chuckled softly, then thought for a moment—

In fact, there are some things that are easier to share with strangers because they’re not a part of your life and won’t get entangled with you. There’s no shame, no worry; things just seem simpler.

But with family, friends, those burdens and secrets are much harder to bring up. You don’t even know how to start the conversation, so over time, you just stop trying. It’s not that you don’t want to talk; you just don’t know how.

Actually, Anson was worried.

As a time traveler, Anson knew how well “Spider-Man” performed at the box office in his previous life. But the problem is, this little butterfly was changing the course of history.

The version of “Spider-Man” that Tobey Maguire starred in during Anson’s previous life is completely different from the one Anson is in now. It’s not just the actors’ interpretations of their roles; the entire tone of the movie has changed. Plus, the changes in the environment before and after the movie’s release, and the controversy surrounding Anson himself—all these little changes are altering the course of history.

So, even though the movie succeeded in his previous life, there’s no guarantee it will this time because it’s a different film, a different timeline.

To be precise, it wasn’t just worry; it was a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and fatigue. The success of the previous movie didn’t make him feel at ease; if anything, it made him more anxious.

And this is Anson’s first time as the lead in a major film. There’s no other actor to hide behind or help him out. He’s standing alone in the spotlight, with every move he makes scrutinized by the audience.

As an actor, he’s truly in the spotlight now, facing intense scrutiny. The entire summer box office seems to rest on his shoulders, and critics are eager to tear him apart.

All these factors combine, creating unprecedented pressure on “Spider-Man.” It feels like the fate of all Hollywood rests on this one film.

Even though he knows it’s an illusion—Hollywood won’t crumble because of one movie—it’s still hard not to get caught up in the whirlwind.

He’s excited, truly excited.

But he’s also genuinely nervous.

It’s only now that Anson realizes he’s not as carefree as he thought. There are some things that, even after two lifetimes, he still needs to learn. No wonder people say:

“You’re never too old to learn.”

It’s not just knowledge; it’s the wisdom of life.

This realization brought a wry smile to Anson’s lips, easing his tension a bit.

“I’m worried about the feedback.”

The words came out easily, more easily than he had expected.

Ryan was stunned and quickly glanced at Anson. He thought Anson didn’t want to talk about it, so he instinctively said, “Isn’t it normal to be worried? It would be weird if you weren’t.”

As if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Ryan quickly explained, “I mean, we worry about every project before it comes out because we care and because we’re passionate. We can’t predict how the critics will react, nor can we foresee the audience’s response.”

“People always like to blame the success or failure of a movie on the actors.”

“Of course, we need to take responsibility, and we can’t deny that sometimes a film’s success or failure really does depend on the actors.”

“But honestly, an actor’s role is limited. Once the film wraps, we lose control. We’re as clueless as the audience, only finding out what we’ve made when it hits the screen.”

That phrasing—

Anson liked it. “Hahaha.”

Ryan shrugged lightly, “So, we’re just like the audience, going into the theater unprepared and watching ourselves make fools of ourselves on the big screen.”

“I must say, it’s almost impossible not to worry about audience feedback.”

Anson understood all that.

But life is like this: when you’re in the thick of it, even the simplest, most obvious truths can easily entangle you.

At such times, family, friends, and loved ones take on the role of an outsider.

Anson’s smile reached his eyes, “No matter how many times you go through it, it’s the same.”

Ryan nodded repeatedly, “God, you don’t know how worried I was today. I was scared the reporters would hound me with questions, only to find out no one even cared. After all, with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt on the same stage, who’s got time to notice anyone else?”

Today, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt unexpectedly appeared at the same event, but the gossip was bound to disappoint because nothing happened. Obviously, they knew they were under the spotlight, so they were extra cautious.

They didn’t deliberately avoid each other, but they didn’t engage directly either—

The rest is up to the reporters to spin.

Anson didn’t care about Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt—they didn’t need to worry. Instead, he turned to Ryan, “Are you still worried now? Brad too. He’s been extra anxious lately.”

This refers to the movie “Murder by Numbers.”

This film isn’t a blockbuster but still a significant mid-range release. Warner Bros. even gave it a wide release in 2,800 theaters, showing their high hopes for it.

However, Sandra Bullock’s attempt to broaden her acting range met with poor reviews—not a complete disaster, but far from good, with an average media rating of only 50. It ended up in the middle of the pack, neither good nor bad.

After two weeks in theaters, the film, with a budget of $50 million, had only grossed $18 million, making it a sure loss.

Clearly, for Sandra, these results were far below expectations.

And it seems that Ryan and Brad Renfro, as supporting actors, are under a lot of pressure as well.

*Chapter 472: A Direct Breakthrough*

The performance of "Murder by Numbers" has fallen far below expectations. Although it has only been in theaters for two weeks, losses are estimated to be as high as $30 million or more.

This is precisely why Warner Bros. is not fond of investing in small to medium-budget films. When they fail, the losses are significant, making it more worthwhile to invest in large-scale projects—where the wins are big and the losses equally dramatic.

Anson doesn’t know how Sandra Bullock, the lead actress, feels, but for Brad Renfro, this is a heavy blow.

In recent years, Brad has been active in various independent films. He finally got the opportunity to return to the mainstream spotlight, only for things to go poorly, plunging him back into the pain of past nightmares.

Moreover, comparisons are often painful.

Brad’s previous work, "Ghost World," received widespread acclaim. Though it didn’t garner award nominations, it was invited to several independent film festivals. Now, "Murder by Numbers" is mired in negative reviews, and the uncertainty about its future has driven Brad into a dark place.

For the past two weeks, Chris Evans has been staying home with Brad, while Anson and James have been busy with the promotion of "Spider-Man," barely having a moment to rest. Despite this, Anson still finds time to call Brad every now and then—not to deliver empty platitudes but to remind him that the success or failure of "Murder by Numbers" isn’t important. The real value lies in the fact that the mainstream media is once again paying attention to Brad, and Hollywood is realizing that Brad is still acting. Even if the movie’s quality is mediocre, the actor's presence shouldn’t be overlooked.

Who knows? Even a bad movie can remind producers of Brad’s talent.

As it turns out, despite their different situations, Ryan also has his own worries, just like Anson tonight.

Noticing Anson’s gaze, Ryan nods slightly, “I’ve been thinking.”

“Thinking about what kind of actor I want to be and what roles I should take. You know, I’m not the conventional handsome guy. For roles like ‘Spider-Man,’ I wouldn’t even pass the audition.”

This is the truth.

Ryan looks particularly frail now—thin and gloomy. His appearance doesn’t fit Hollywood’s mainstream aesthetics. Major film companies prefer tall, strong, and handsome actors, while those who are skinny often struggle to find lead roles in independent films.

Ryan Gosling in his early twenties, and later Timothée Chalamet, are prime examples. Their physiques and images don’t align with Hollywood’s traditional standards, making it difficult for them to land leading roles.

If it weren’t for the unexpected success of “Call Me by Your Name,” it would have been incredibly hard for the latter to make a name for himself.

This is also why Ryan later started working out.

The Ryan in “Half Nelson” and the Ryan in “Crazy, Stupid, Love” are only five years apart, yet they seem like two completely different people.

Anson raises his chin slightly, “So, you’re trying to define your presence?”

Ryan looks at Anson in surprise, “Yes...” There’s a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Anson replies calmly, “Even a pretty face can have a brain. Many people don’t realize that Marilyn Monroe was actually very intelligent. She put a lot of thought into her acting career, but the environment back then didn’t allow her to explore that side of herself.”

Ryan’s smile widens, “I believe that.”

After a slight pause, Ryan honestly says, “You’re different from what I imagined.”

"Friends"? "The Princess Diaries"? "Spider-Man"? And even fashion week runway shows?

To be honest, Ryan didn’t think he and Anson would have anything in common, but now it seems that a little prejudice can blind you if you’re not careful.

Although Ryan stops there, Anson can hear the underlying meaning in his words, “So, you have imagined it?”

A teasing remark leaves Ryan momentarily stunned, and he can’t help but give Anson a thumbs up, “Haha, you got me.” With wit and sharpness like that, it’s no wonder Jay Leno saw him in a new light, and no wonder he became a star on “The Tonight Show.” “Hahaha.”

The laughter doesn’t stop.

Ryan shakes his head slightly, protesting, “I was trying to comfort you, but now it seems someone doesn’t need it at all.”

Ryan expected Anson to continue teasing, but instead, Anson said, “Thank you.”

Ryan is taken aback.

When Ryan is serious, Anson jokes; when Ryan jokes, Anson is serious.

The rhythm is completely off, and Ryan can’t keep up.

Ryan, “Huh?”

Anson, looking serious, says, “I said, thank you.”

Seeing Ryan’s stunned expression, a smile appears in Anson’s eyes, “Tonight, everyone is showering me with compliments and praise. It’s overwhelming, and I can’t tell what’s genuine. But now, someone is willing to calm down and listen. So, thank you.”

“Cough, cough...” Ryan suddenly feels uneasy, coughing to cover his embarrassment.

This makes Anson burst into hearty laughter, “Haha.”

At this moment, Ryan is still young and inexperienced—a rookie who’s fresh out of the gate. His childhood experience in the Mickey Mouse Club doesn’t help much. But it’s precisely because of this that Ryan was able to complete those performances early in his career and find his place.

Anson brings the conversation back on track, “Are you worried about the performance of ‘Murder by Numbers’ too?”

Ryan exhales softly, “Worried. Actually, this is also my first widely released film. I’m even afraid to look at myself on the big screen; but from the current situation, there’s no point in worrying anymore.”

Barring any surprises, “Murder by Numbers” has no chance of recovery. The losses are inevitable.

Anson, “Are you also worried about Sandra?”

Screech!

Ryan’s hands noticeably shake as he grips the steering wheel—

Fortunately, the streets are empty at this late hour. Ryan quickly corrects the steering, his face flustered, “I, uh, why would I be worried about Sandra?”

Anson is taken aback as well.

It takes him a moment to recall that in the previous timeline, Ryan and Sandra Bullock fell in love during the filming of “Murder by Numbers” and dated for over a year.

But as things stand, the paparazzi haven’t uncovered this relationship yet, so it’s still a secret.

Anson didn’t mean anything by it, but Ryan has already given himself away.

A smile creeps up on Anson’s face, but he doesn’t call him out on it. It seems that Ryan and Sandra aren’t ready to go public, “Because Sandra is the lead actress? Just like you’re worried about Brad, you must be worried about Sandra too?”

Ryan realizes that his overreaction might have given him away, “Oh, of course, I’m worried about Sandra. Her pressure is greater than Brad’s or mine. We don’t have much to lose, but Sandra does.”

Blah, blah, blah.

Explanations are just excuses.

Ryan realizes he’s saying too much, so he takes a deep breath and quickly brakes his thoughts, “I suppose no actor is exempt from this.”

“Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt—they’re probably just as nervous with their first film as they are with their hundredth.”

“Uh, that’s just my guess.”

Adding that last part makes him sound less confident, which makes Anson laugh. He doesn’t point out Ryan’s awkward topic shift and goes along with it, “Maybe Nicolas Cage is the exception.”

*Chapter 473: The Movie Review Party*

Nicolas Cage had once starred in countless classic films, but later, due to gambling debts, he was forced to take on a slew of nonsensical movies just to pay off what he owed. He became a puppet, continuously appearing in all kinds of terrible films, completely losing control over his career.

Naturally, Nicolas no longer had to worry about his films—

Because there was nothing left to worry about.

Ryan hesitated for a moment before finally realizing what was going on with Nicolas and burst into laughter. “Madonna and Cher are the same.”

Boom.

In an instant, the car was filled with noise. The exhaustion and nervous tension quietly dissipated, and without even noticing the passage of time, they had already arrived at their destination—

Anson’s residence, right in the heart of Los Angeles.

Ryan couldn’t help but take a second look. This area wasn’t just affordable for anyone; after all, acting is a profession where you never know where the next job will come from once one ends.

Anson didn’t notice Ryan’s thoughts, but he had an idea after seeing Ryan’s reaction and asked, “Tomorrow at noon, we’re hosting a movie review reading party here—”

Ryan asked, “A movie review reading party?”

Anson nodded. “Yes, regardless of whether the reviews are good or bad, we’ll face them head-on. So, James and I thought we should host a small party where everyone faces the critics' reviews together. It should be a lot of fun.”

Ryan was stunned—

If the reviews were bad, wouldn’t that make the party unbearably awkward?

You had to admire Anson and James’s sense of self-entertainment!

“Brad will be there too. If you don’t have any plans for lunch tomorrow, you’re welcome to join us.”

Anson extended the invitation without hesitation.

Ryan hesitated, “I’m not sure my heart can handle…” that much awkwardness.

“Hahaha,” Anson laughed freely. “Don’t worry, the world won’t end. Even if the sky falls, someone tall like Tom Cruise will be there to hold it up.”

All of Hollywood knew that Tom was only 173 cm tall—

This was a sore spot, something everyone knew but no one dared to discuss.

After Tom divorced Nicole Kidman, Nicole famously said, “Finally, I can wear high heels as much as I want.”

Ryan tried to hold it in but couldn’t, and his laughter echoed through the empty street in the dead of night.

…

Standing at the doorstep, Ryan suddenly hesitated. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

Last night, Anson might have just extended the invitation out of politeness, but now Ryan had actually shown up. Plus, he might have to face a room full of strangers and bad movie reviews, just the thought of which was enough to make him cringe in embarrassment. Ryan didn’t know how he was going to handle it.

Maybe, possibly, probably, he should just leave.

He paused, about to turn around when the door suddenly opened on its own, catching him completely off guard, leading to a moment of eye contact.

“Mary Jane!” Ryan blurted out in surprise.

Standing in front of him was none other than Kirsten Dunst, who played Mary Jane in Spider-Man. Ryan had no idea she would be the one to open the door—

“Uh, you, he, this.”

Ryan thought he had stumbled upon some kind of secret. Could Kirsten and Anson be…?

But before Kirsten could respond, another figure approached from behind, “Hey, good morning.”

Kirsten glanced at the newcomer and gave a sweet smile. “Hey, sleepyhead, it’s already noon.”

Ryan: ??? What’s going on here?

The newcomer stepped forward, ready to hug Kirsten, but she shyly stepped back a little, giving him a warning look.

Following Kirsten’s gaze, the man noticed Ryan standing awkwardly by the door, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. The man smiled and said, “I’m Jake. Jake Gyllenhaal.”

Ryan blinked, “Ryan Gosling.”

Jake greeted him warmly, “Are you here for the movie review party too? God, Anson always thinks differently than normal people, right?”

Ryan was speechless, “I admire his courage.”

Before they could continue the conversation, Anson appeared, dressed casually. “Jake, Ryan, you’re here. It’s about to start.”

Ryan was slightly dazed, and before he knew it, he was already inside. Jake closed the door while Kirsten nervously peeked outside, “No paparazzi, right?”

Jake sighed, “Even if they caught us, I wouldn’t mind.”

Kirsten glared at him.

Jake took a deep breath and let it out heavily, “No, no paparazzi.”

Kirsten then invited Ryan inside.

Ryan lagged behind a bit and whispered to Jake, “Maybe she just wants things to stay simple. Once the paparazzi get involved, it’s no longer just about the two of you.”

Sandra Bullock thought the same way. Even though Ryan didn’t mind the exposure, they always kept a low profile.

It seemed that Kirsten being here had nothing to do with Anson; Jake was her date.

Jake took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I sneaked in here like a thief.”

“But today isn’t about us; it’s about Anson, about Spider-Man.”

Ryan smiled, “And about Kirsten.”

Only then did he notice that the living room was already packed, bustling with activity. James Franco was lounging on the couch, beer in hand; Chris Evans was busy setting out snacks like chips, peanuts, and fruit platters on the table.

Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Sam Levine—the members of the “Frat Pack”—were all there, along with Marla Sokoloff, who was dating James, and James’s brother Dave Franco.

Boyd Holbrook looked nervously huddled in a corner, while Anne Hathaway seemed a bit shy, sitting quietly with an opened but untouched bottle of beer beside her. Elizabeth Burbank, on the other hand, moved around the room with ease, chatting with everyone as if she were the hostess.

With just a quick glance, over a dozen people had filled the living room, making this movie review party even livelier than expected.

Ryan felt a bit overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. Suddenly, someone passed by him from behind, saying, “Sorry, no time to chat. I clearly overestimated my ability to host a party. Hey, James, we’re not done with the preparations yet.”

James didn’t even turn around, “Relax, relax! We’re the main attraction.”

Ryan turned his head and saw Anson.

Anson didn’t have time to greet him properly and just shouted, “Everyone, this is Ryan. Ryan, meet everyone.”

That was the extent of the introduction, and then everyone began raising their beer bottles—

“Hey, Ryan.”

“Ryan, welcome.”

Ryan quickly forced a smile and hurriedly called out to Anson, who was about to leave, “Anson, where’s Brad?”

Anson spread his hands, “I don’t know. He didn’t seem to come back last night. I suspect he might have passed out at the Hilton Hotel.”

As he spoke, Anson’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and showed it to Ryan, “Oh, it’s Brad.”

### Chapter 474: Building Up the Hype

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear—

Anson showed his phone screen to Ryan. Even though a string of phone numbers flashed by too quickly for Ryan to recognize, if Anson said it was Brad, then it was Brad.

Anson motioned for Ryan to take a seat. "Don't worry; they won't eat you alive. Even if they did, I believe you'd survive. I'll go and nudge Brad now. Who knows where that guy has disappeared to?"

Ryan opened his mouth, ready to respond, but before he could, Anson had already turned away, leaving him standing there. Still, a smile crept onto his face.

Boom!

"Anson, Anson! We did it! Our movie is a hit!"

Before Anson could answer the phone, James was already standing on the couch, arms raised in celebration.

Cut.

Pfft.

Everyone burst into boos.

"James, what happened to the review party?"

"Yeah, weren’t we all supposed to watch it together? Why’d you sneak off?"

James quickly explained, "It wasn't me—it was the director. Apatow just texted me saying the movie's a hit. Half of Century City knows already."

Century City, located southwest along Santa Monica Boulevard past Beverly Hills, emerges into view upon entering Century Park—a stark contrast to the low-rise Los Angeles skyline, with its towering buildings. This area is an anomaly, almost like Atlantis, serving as Hollywood’s heart, where talent agencies, PR firms, and movie studios all try to establish their offices.

Being in Century City means you’ve staked a claim in Hollywood.

Once a studio lot developed by 20th Century Fox, Century City has evolved over time into the entertainment hub of North America for film, music, and more.

When Judd Apatow tells James that "half of Century City knows," it means the news has spread across the core circles of the entertainment industry.

Everything is going as expected. All of Hollywood is watching—not just the "Spider-Man" crew, but everyone is keenly awaiting the film's reception and performance. This summer blockbuster rests squarely on Peter Parker's young, slender shoulders.

Even in 2002, when social networks were non-existent, news still spread quickly through Century City. A light breeze could carry the news.

"Really?"

"But you still shouldn't have gone ahead without us. We were all waiting to see it together."

"Anson, Anson, get over here."

The whole room was buzzing with excitement.

Anson paused his steps, a smile already forming on his lips—

Good news is always thrilling, no matter what.

"Three minutes, give me three minutes," Anson called out, stepping into the backyard with his phone, leaving behind the noise and chatter. "Hey, Brad, where are you? I checked your room this morning—no sign you came back. Chris and I were worried you might have passed out in some alley."

"Oh, I'm at the Hilton. I was completely wasted and passed out on a couch. God, I have no idea what happened last night." Brad’s raspy voice came through the phone, sounding like a rusty tin can. You could almost feel the throbbing headache through the line.

Anson spread his hands wide. Why wasn't he surprised?

"So, where are you now? Do you need us to come pick you up? The review party is all set up, and it’s not far away." Anson heard a tapping on the window, and when he turned around, he saw Chris.

Anson gestured to his phone, "It’s Brad."

Chris widened his eyes. "How is he?"

Anson just replied, "He's fine," and then continued his conversation.

"Yeah, I called about that..." Brad hesitated. "Anson, here's the deal: I met a producer last night. Damn, I don’t even know what I said to him, but he wants to talk to me about a project."

"That's great!" Anson's eyes lit up.

Brad let out a long breath. "I was hoping to push it to the afternoon, but I look like a mess right now, and my breath is awful. But he doesn't mind; he said we could just chat here at the Hilton. So, I might not make it back for the review party."

"No, no, no, don’t worry about it." Anson waved his hand and gave a smile. "Brad, look, someone’s noticed your performance. 'Digital Murder' is finally paying off. You should talk to the producer and show him what you've got. Believe in yourself."

Brad took another deep breath. "You know, I really wish I could make it back. I know how much this movie means to you and James."

"Ha, don’t worry about it. Just know that next week, you’re on trash duty. As for James, a case of beer should smooth things over." Anson couldn’t help but feel a bit brighter. If Brad could land a role, that would be fantastic.

"Man, you should go freshen up and, most importantly, gather your thoughts. Make the most of this opportunity." Anson advised.

Brad seemed to finally relax. "Sure thing. Good luck, and tell James I’m sorry."

After hanging up, Anson stood there thinking—

Los Angeles is indeed a land of opportunity. If you stick with it long enough, chances are you’ll get your break. Of course, the hardest part is the sticking.

So, he shouldn’t worry. There’s no reason to fret over the success or failure of one movie. He’s seized every opportunity so far and has been enjoying his second chance at life. Why get caught up now?

Not lingering any longer, Anson returned to the bustling living room, where his friends were still chatting and messing around. They hadn’t started reading the reviews yet, but Apatow's news had definitely sparked excitement.

Anson spread his arms wide and shouted, "Hey, guys! Are you ready? It's time to open Pandora’s box!"

Roars, whoops, and hollers erupted.

Anson grabbed Chris and made his way to Ryan, quickly filling him in.

Sure enough, Ryan’s face brightened immediately. The two even exchanged a high-five and whispered, "Hope Brad does well."

Chris couldn’t help but get fired up. "He will! He definitely will. No worries."

Anson nodded in agreement. "Alright then, we should be ready to start. Oh, wait—popcorn! Chris, those buttered popcorns, bring them out, and then we can begin."

Chris nodded repeatedly. "Yeah, what’s a movie without popcorn?"

With everyone pitching in, they finally got everything ready. Under their eager gazes, Anson opened his laptop, navigated to the website, and the moment of truth arrived—

### Chapter 475: Limbs Curled Up

"Oh, oh, oh, here's a great one. The 'Charlotte Observer' states: Allow me to summarize the viewing experience as 'a yawn.'"

"Fifty points!"

After reading the review, Anson dramatically opened his mouth and mimicked a yawn.

Pfft.

Boo.

A chorus of boos erupted in the living room.

Seth Rogen's iconic booming voice cut through the noise, "Oh, that’s just rude. Even a bad review should use some adjectives, right?"

Ha-ha, everyone burst into laughter.

The movie review party had begun, but things weren't exactly going as imagined.

Wait, wasn’t Century City saying it was a hit? What’s happening here?

Here's the situation:

Indeed, the first batch of reviews uploaded for "Spider-Man" was positive—not just one or two, but a full five reviews, all scoring above 80 points.

For a popcorn movie, having an average media score above 80 is undoubtedly a breakthrough, enough to get half of Century City excited.

Couple that with the genuine audience reactions from last night’s premiere, without any rehearsals or manipulations, and everything seemed to suggest that the movie's quality exceeded expectations.

Instantly, the atmosphere brewed with anticipation, ready to dive into summer blockbuster mode.

Finally, after half a year of stagnation and depression, it was time to get hyped. "Spider-Man" might just turn things around.

The entertainment industry is always fickle; people were eager to cheer after just a couple of good signs. But no one expected that five positive reviews were still too small a sample size. The reviews that followed were overwhelmingly mixed.

Things took a sharp turn.

Actually, they were just mixed reviews, not bad ones. From any perspective, mixed reviews aren't something to worry about too much—it’s not the end of the world.

But the higher the expectation, the stronger the impact of the fall. And "Spider-Man" was carrying such heavy expectations. After five positive reviews, the bar was set sky-high, so when the mixed reviews started pouring in, Century City was thrown into disarray.

Wait, could this bad omen actually be coming true?

What Ryan feared most finally happened: a group of strangers sitting in a room listening to bad reviews.

Ryan felt like he could curl his toes and dig out an entire Disneyland castle from the floor. But surprisingly, Anson managed to turn those reviews into jokes and banter, so instead of awkwardness, there was a joyful atmosphere.

Watching Anson, who was clearly reading out mixed reviews, yet his animated performance had everyone in stitches. A room full of young people joined in the fun.

It seemed like bad reviews weren't that big of a deal.

It was hard to believe, but that last one was actually a fifty-point review—

No, mixed review. It was a mixed review.

"Oh, oh, oh, you should hear what ‘Time Magazine’ had to say."

As soon as Anson spoke, the crowd started cheering in excitement.

"'Time, Time,' this is a heavyweight!"

"Come on, Anson, give us something juicy."

Anson looked around and smiled, "Fifty points, also fifty points."

Immediately—

"Meh, only fifty points? Nothing lower?"

"These critics, do they even know how to criticize properly? Give us a twenty-pointer."

"Anson, be honest. Are you afraid to read out a ten or fifteen-pointer? If you’re scared, let James do it."

Ryan looked around. What was with these people actually welcoming a more brutal storm? Weren’t they supposed to hope for good reviews?

Anson shrugged, "Sorry, the worst review so far is still fifty points. I guess they don’t want to hurt my fragile heart."

Ha-ha, everyone laughed together.

"Come on, come on, ‘Time Magazine.’"

“We all know Anson is very handsome; everyone knows this. Sam Raimi really didn’t need to keep reminding us with constant close-ups.”

Period.

The whole room fell silent.

James couldn’t believe his ears, "That's it?"

Anson spread his hands.

Boo! Pfft! Boo!

The crowd booed loudly, and some even threw chips at Anson, showing their strong disapproval.

Seth, with a face of mock sorrow, said, “Believe me, we already know that. You don’t need to keep repeating it. One narcissistic James is already more than we can handle, okay?”

James replied, "Hey!"

In the midst of all the laughter and noise, the damage from the sharp shift from good to mixed reviews seemed to be fading.

Anson wasn’t lying—

So far, the worst review score is still fifty points.

It felt painless, without truly hitting any sore spots. Of course, there’s also another possibility—maybe “Spider-Man” wasn’t that bad. Even the pickiest critics gave it a fifty.

"Los Angeles Weekly," fifty points: "Thanks to the absolutely awful CGI and the marshmallow-stuffed coming-of-age storyline, Peter Parker's story as a superhero is undeniably mediocre and dull. He seems more concerned about a girl changing her dress than his superpowers or the end of the world."

Innovation often comes with pressure.

When Sam Raimi chose to explore Peter Parker's story through a coming-of-age angle, it was bound to polarize viewers—

After all, there’s a segment of the audience who enter theaters wanting to see heroes fight for justice and punish evil, not a teen's romantic and emotional growth.

Thus, "Los Angeles Weekly" fired all its shots.

"San Francisco Chronicle," fifty points: "Maybe the real problem is how to update the ‘Spider-Man’ story to keep up with the times. The original comic was born in 1962, creating a unique superhero that showed people there could be more to the world of comics. But Raimi hasn’t found the right way to bring the story into the present, forty years later. For audiences born after the 70s, this story is too outdated and clunky."

Accurate, sharp, and ruthless.

So, is that all?

No bad reviews?

Not fifty-point mixed reviews, but a true, scathing critique?

The answer is... no.

After five positive reviews, there was a stream of ten mixed ones, instantly overshadowing the good reviews. The string of mixed reviews is indeed quite striking:

After all, "Digital Murder" also landed in the mixed-review range in the end. It never really fell into the bad review category, but the movie still ended up losing money.

If "Spider-Man" wants to open strong and turn around the slump of the summer, a string of mixed reviews isn’t enough—not by a long shot.

No bad reviews—that’s something to be relieved about. But a flood of mixed reviews? That’s concerning.

“Next, ‘The New Yorker.’”

Anson threw out a heavy hitter.

Sure enough, everyone started chattering. Compared to other media, “The New Yorker” prides itself on its independent character and literary quality. It has a strong influence among intellectuals and the middle class.

But then again, it’s not surprising that "The New Yorker" doesn’t like popcorn movies.

"Fifty points."

Everyone shook their heads, and Annie even shouted, "I'm disappointed in you, ‘New Yorker.’ You can do better; your critiques could be harsher."

Amidst a round of applause and whistles, Anson finally revealed the verdict.

"The movie is as timid as a spider, tentatively trying to take a step forward but ultimately just hiding in the corner, frozen stupidly in place, as if afraid that stepping out of the shadows might… I don't know… expose it to the sunlight? Ew."