566-570

**Chapter 566: American Sniper**

After the WBA heavyweight title fight ended, Link returned to the U.S. with the championship belt. This match allowed him to successfully transition from a light heavyweight champion to a world heavyweight champion.

Compared to light heavyweight matches, heavyweight fights are more entertaining and attract a larger audience. The main reason lies in the difference in entertainment value.

Take middleweight, for example.

Middleweight boxers weigh less than 75 kilograms, and their punches usually weigh less than 800 pounds.

Due to the padding in the gloves, an 800-pound punch hitting an opponent becomes lighter, and the damage is less significant.

In addition, middleweight boxers are smaller and lighter, with more agile footwork, making them harder to hit.

Middleweight matches rarely result in injuries or bloody exchanges, and most victories are decided by points.

On the other hand, heavyweight boxers weigh over 91 kilograms, and their punches weigh around 1,500 pounds.

The gloves' padding doesn't differ much, which means the punches heavyweight boxers throw are far more damaging, and injuries and bloodshed are common.

These fights are much more thrilling to watch, drawing more attention and offering more entertainment value.

Link's fight against Deontay and Povetkin was particularly brutal, which led to higher viewership than previous matches.

The match sold 4.54 million PPV buys in Europe, setting a new record, and sold 2.41 million in North America, with a total of 160 million people worldwide watching the live broadcast on Showtime, breaking the pay-per-view record for boxing matches.

Within a month after the fight, the video had been viewed over 1.2 billion times, also setting a record for similar content.

Additionally, revenue from advertising, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise surpassed $400 million.

According to ESPN, the fight generated over $1 billion in commercial value, more than any of Link’s previous bouts.

Link’s earnings also increased, pocketing $220 million in shares.

Including his April match with Deontay, the two fights together brought in more than $400 million, surpassing the earnings from his previous six fights.

This is one of the benefits of heavyweight boxing.

There are downsides, though. He got hurt.

His left cheek was swollen, his nose was slightly bleeding, and his shoulder and left rib were mildly injured. While not severe, this was the first time he sustained such heavy injuries compared to his previous fights.

Because of this, both Ivanka and Taylor no longer supported him continuing to fight. With a net worth exceeding $20 billion and several companies under his belt, he could make billions a year without doing anything, so risking his life for a few more billion dollars didn’t seem worth it, especially if he suffered a serious injury.

However, Ivanka’s persuasion was more gentle, unlike Taylor’s temper tantrum and arguments.

Link tactfully responded that he would fight more sensibly in the future, trying to avoid injuries. If he were ever seriously hurt, he would consider retiring early, not risking his health or life and not worrying her and the kids.

Ivanka was satisfied with his answer and responded with a tender kiss and an affectionate night together.

After spending the night with Ivanka, his injuries were almost fully recovered the next day. This was a benefit of his consistent training; as his strength and stamina improved, so did his ability to recover and heal.

This was also why he wasn’t afraid of going all out in his fights.

It’s just that Ivanka and Taylor didn’t know, so they worried.

After the fight, American media also gave extensive coverage.

On one hand, they introduced the brutal and exciting aspects of the fight, continuing to promote boxing and expanding Link’s international influence.

Most reports praised his strength and impact.

**Ring** magazine claimed that Link had reached an unprecedented height in his boxing career, calling him the brightest star of the 2010s, and that his influence had elevated the sport to new heights.

**BOXING** magazine referred to Link as the "Caesar" of the boxing world. After conquering super middleweight and light heavyweight, he continued to dominate the heavyweight division, with few competitors who could challenge him.

Some media also speculated about potential fights with the Klitschko brothers, analyzing both sides' strengths.

Since he was injured in the fight against Povetkin and, for the first time, took the match into the fourth round before winning by TKO, many believe that even if he defeated Vitali Klitschko, it would be a hard-fought victory.

As for Wladimir Klitschko, the media saw them as evenly matched, and said that unifying the heavyweight title against him would be a difficult task for Link.

These reports were also part of the promotion of boxing, and Link participated in two interviews: one with **People** magazine, and the other on CBS's **Ellen Show**, discussing the fight, his work, life, and some gossip.

After finishing his boxing-related obligations, Link took a few days of rest at home before preparing for the filming of *American Sniper*. He practiced sniping and underwent military training.

Since the character he portrayed, Chris Kyle, was from Texas, Link also needed to learn the Texas accent.

Through conversations with Chris Kyle's wife and comrades, Link learned about Kyle's personal habits and hobbies. For instance, he liked to inhale deeply through his nose, enjoyed listening to rock bands like Linkin Park and Staind, and also liked a few of Link's rock songs, such as “Believer,” “Give Me Reason,” and “Legends Never Die.”

However, since Link was the lead actor in the film, including his songs would have felt out of place, so they weren’t included.

All this preparation was crucial in portraying the character with enough depth and realism.

By early June, filming for *American Sniper* officially began, directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Jason Hall, with Link, Sienna Miller, and Luke Grimes in starring roles.

The primary filming locations were in Rabat, Morocco, and Santa Clarita, California, as well as Imperial Valley in El Centro, which stood in for Iraq's battlefields.

"Scene one, take one, Action!"

In the desolate deserts of Southern California, the movie began filming.

---

While *American Sniper* was being filmed, the North American movie market entered its competitive summer season.

The highest-grossing summer film so far was **Captain America 2**, produced by Disney Studios. With a budget of $180 million, the film had grossed $302 million domestically and $813 million worldwide since its release in early April.

Ranking second was Sony Pictures’ **The Amazing Spider-Man 2**, which had a budget of $230 million and grossed $187 million domestically and $668 million globally since its release in early May.

Third place was Warner Bros.’ **Godzilla**, with a $160 million budget. Since its mid-May release, it had earned $162 million domestically and $428 million worldwide.

Lionsgate's **Divergent: Insurgent** was in fourth place. With a $78 million budget, it had grossed $158 million domestically and $305 million globally since its early May release.

At the end of May, Lionsgate released its eighth film, **Neighbors**, a comedy about a young couple with a newborn daughter who engage in a pranking war with a rowdy group of college students next door. Directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, and Zac Efron, the R-rated comedy debuted at number one in the box office with $51.07 million in its opening weekend, setting a new record for R-rated comedies in U.S. box office history by 2014.

The second spot went to **X-Men: Days of Future Past**, which grossed $46.67 million this week, bringing its total to $192 million.

After 15 days in theaters, **Neighbors** crossed the $100 million mark, grossing $103 million domestically, making it Lionsgate’s fourth film to surpass $100 million at the U.S. box office this year.

The movie also performed well internationally, grossing $84.44 million overseas within two weeks, becoming the top-grossing comedy in foreign markets.

The film is expected to gross around $280 million globally.

With a budget of only $18 million, the film’s profit margin was 1:15, making it a bigger hit than **We’re the Millers** and **Ride Along**.

Lionsgate released eight films in the first half of the year, seven of which grossed over $50 million in the U.S., and four of which topped $100 million domestically. This success made its competitors envious.

Lionsgate invests only around $600 million annually on films, yet regularly produces surprise box office hits. This year, they’ve had three blockbusters in a row.

Meanwhile, the six major studios invest over $1 billion annually, and while some big-budget films perform well, many of their smaller-budget movies underperform. In fact, six out of ten of their films lose money, and even the few profitable films have a profit margin below 1:3, meaning their combined earnings still pale in comparison to **Neighbors**.

The top executives of the six major studios were frustrated. They began trying to recruit talent from Lionsgate, hoping to learn its secrets. They also reached out to Paramount and Warner Bros. to explore collaboration opportunities with Lionsgate, aiming to ride on its success.

They weren’t worried about losing face; as long as they could make money and keep their shareholders happy, avoiding getting fired was all that mattered.

As a result, Lionsgate received several collaboration offers from the Big Six film studios.

Seizing the opportunity while the top executives of the Big Six were more accommodating, Lionsgate once again applied to join the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), aiming to help oversee and manage the American film industry and contribute to the development of Hollywood.

After discussions, the executives of the Big Six reluctantly accepted Lionsgate as a member of the MPAA.

However, Lionsgate was only given the status of an ordinary member, which meant they only had voting and advisory rights, without any specific roles or powers. They were not involved in the internal management of the MPAA, while representatives from the Big Six held positions such as chairperson, vice chairperson, and director.

Link and Ivanka did not oppose this arrangement.

Since Lionsgate had just joined the MPAA, the priority was to establish a foothold within the organization. Power and positions could be pursued gradually.

As long as Lionsgate continued to grow and lead the box office, there would be no worry about gaining more influence.

Following Lionsgate's entry into the MPAA, Ivanka, the chairperson of Lionsgate, remained at the top of The Hollywood Reporter's latest "Hollywood Power Rankings." She also became the first woman to top the list for two consecutive years.

With the media hype, her fame skyrocketed, and she was hailed as a goddess by countless fans and media outlets.

(End of chapter)

**Chapter 567: During the Movie Filming**

"Damn Lionsgate, damn Link, damn the Big Six, they’re all damned!"

At The Weinstein Company, Harvey was fuming after seeing the news that Lionsgate successfully joined the MPAA.

He had heard a few years back that Lionsgate was trying to join the MPAA, but their plans were blocked by the Big Six studios. At the time, he was pleased, believing that as long as the Big Six were holding them back, Lionsgate would never be able to join the MPAA.

But now, just a little over a year later, the Big Six had softened their stance, allowing Lionsgate to become a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This frustrated him immensely.

Although the MPAA isn’t an official organization, it holds significant power in the film industry. If a film is rated "Restricted" by the MPAA, it can forget about attracting a wide audience, and that has a big impact on box office revenue.

When Harvey first started out as a producer in the 1970s and ’80s, he was constantly forced to cut scenes from his films to get better ratings from the MPAA, in order to appeal to a wider audience.

These experiences taught him how crucial power is in the industry.

Later on, Miramax did well, frequently landing in the top eight studios and often winning Oscars. He even applied to join the MPAA several times but was denied every single time.

It wasn’t until Disney acquired Miramax in 1993 that he was able to leverage Disney's influence within the MPAA to his advantage.

After leaving Disney in 2005, he made more attempts to join the MPAA but still didn’t succeed.

Now, with the Big Six allowing Lionsgate to join the MPAA, he felt heavily discriminated against.

He was also upset with the executives at Warner Bros. and Disney. Originally, he had agreed to work with Warner Bros. on film projects, hoping to help them suppress Lionsgate, and ideally, crush them.

But then the Big Six saw how much money Lionsgate’s films were making and one after another, they began cooperating with Lionsgate and eventually allowed them into the MPAA.

At this rate, Lionsgate was only going to grow stronger, making it harder for The Weinstein Company to catch up.

Not only was Harvey furious, but he also felt a sense of despair.

“Stop complaining. Lionsgate has been in the top three at the box office for two years in a row, and this year their numbers are even better. The Big Six had no choice but to let them in. Lionsgate earned its spot in the MPAA through merit,” said Bob, shaking his head.

Harvey grunted in displeasure, but he knew Bob was right. Lionsgate had consistently had massive box office hits for two years in a row, with a market value exceeding $7 billion, even surpassing pre-bankruptcy MGM and DreamWorks. The number of films they released each year was also on par with the Big Six.

By all standards, Lionsgate qualified for MPAA membership, and continued rejection from the Big Six would have drawn public criticism.

Still, Harvey couldn’t help but feel bitter. If only he hadn’t interfered with Jennifer Lawrence's casting in "The Hunger Games," Link might not have impulsively acquired Lionsgate.

Without that acquisition, Lionsgate wouldn’t have become so powerful, and Link would still just be a small-time actor in Hollywood.

In a way, Lionsgate’s success was partially thanks to his interference, but Link never showed any gratitude.

Hmph!

"Harvey, the reality now is that Lionsgate has become a Hollywood giant. We don’t have the strength to bring them down, nor can we surpass them in box office numbers. But we do have one advantage: we’re more experienced in Oscar campaigning. If you want to make things tough for Link, the only way is to make more Oscar-level films and beat him in awards season," Bob suggested.

Harvey thought for a moment and nodded silently.

In terms of market value and box office, The Weinstein Company couldn’t compete with Lionsgate, but when it came to Oscar campaigns, Harvey wasn’t one to lose. This year, Weinstein Company and Warner Bros. had co-produced several high-quality indie films.

He was confident that at next year’s Oscars, Lionsgate wouldn’t win nearly as many awards.

Seeing Harvey nod, Bob breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Harvey focused on making films and stopped obsessing over taking down Lionsgate, with his talent, he could certainly make some great films and earn the company some decent money.

——

After four weeks in theaters, *Neighbors* grossed $152 million domestically and $124 million internationally, placing it in the top eight summer box office hits. It also had the highest profit margin of any summer film.

Lionsgate was set to earn over $100 million from the film.

That same week, Lionsgate’s ninth film of the year, *Step Up 5*, was released, produced by Summit Entertainment.

Since Summit’s first *Step Up* film became a hit in 2006, they had produced four sequels. While the sequels didn’t perform as well as the original, they still made a decent profit.

The production cost of *Step Up 5* was $15 million, and in its opening weekend, it grossed $12.18 million in North America, landing fifth in the weekend box office. It was expected to reach a total domestic gross of $30 to $40 million.

Internationally, it performed even better, earning $32.61 million in its opening weekend, and by its 16th day, the international box office had exceeded $50 million, a solid performance.

At the same time, the top box office performer was Paramount Pictures’ *Transformers 4: Age of Extinction*, which had been released in mid-June and grossed over $100 million in its opening weekend. In just 16 days, its domestic box office had crossed $200 million.

Its international box office surpassed $400 million in three weeks, with total box office estimates expected to exceed $1 billion.

However, with a production cost of $210 million and over $100 million spent on marketing, the profit margin for *Transformers 4* wouldn’t be particularly high.

——

As competition in the North American film market heated up, *American Sniper* wrapped up its location shooting in Southern California and the crew moved to Morocco for additional filming, with Link joining them.

——

“Hold on!”

On top of a building on the outskirts of Rabat, the capital of Morocco, Link held an M40A3 sniper rifle, his chin resting against the gunstock as he peered through the scope. He spoke into his microphone, “I see a woman and a child about 200 yards away walking toward the convoy. The woman’s arms aren’t moving—she might be hiding something.”

Down the street, a woman dressed in a black robe and headscarf stopped, pulling an anti-tank grenade from under her robes and handing it to the child.

Link calmly reported the situation again.

“A woman and a child, you said?” the commander asked over the radio.

“Yes, did you see them? Can you confirm?” Link asked.

“No, you know the rules of engagement. It’s your call.”

The man over the radio replied.

“Buddy, be careful. If you make a mistake, they’ll kick you out and send you right back to Leavenworth,” his spotter cautioned.

Link kept his eyes on the street, watching as the child ran toward the American tanks with the grenade.

Link’s finger tightened on the trigger as he watched the child through the scope.

“Cut!”

“No good!”

Director Clint Eastwood removed his headphones and walked over. “Link, your emotions aren’t quite there yet. You’re not conveying the calm and decisiveness of a real sniper. A sniper is a killing machine on the battlefield. Even if there’s some hesitation, they quickly get into the zone.”

“Clint, I understand. I’m working on it,” Link exhaled, a bit frustrated.

Clint patted his shoulder, leaving to get the crew ready for another take.

Link took a deep breath through his nose, feeling a bit conflicted.

At the start of filming, everything went smoothly. Whether it was emotional scenes, friendship scenes, or playing a dad, he handled them all with ease. But when it came to intense war scenes like this, he found himself stumbling.

The problem was his mindset.

The film’s protagonist, Chris Kyle, was a sniper who killed over 200 targets in Iraq, including soldiers, civilians, terrorists, and even women and children.

Link, on the other hand, was a boxer. While he had killed someone before, it had never been intentional.

During scenes like this, he had to fully immerse himself in the role, portraying the emotional burden of killing, while also remaining detached enough to show the sniper’s cold, decisive nature. It was a delicate balance, harder to execute than it seemed.

In the scene just now, his target was a five or six-year-old boy.

Even though it was just acting, when it came time to pull the trigger, something in him resisted, as if he were actually about to kill a child.

Link shook his head, breathing in deeply, reminding himself that it was just a movie, that he was playing Chris Kyle, and that killing the target was about protecting his fellow soldiers, not senseless murder.

“Scene 74, camera 4, take 3, action!”

The shoot resumed. Link spotted the target, reported to the commander, and then calmly squeezed the trigger. Two shots rang out, and both the boy and the robed woman fell to the ground.

"This evil b****," the shooting assistant cursed after seeing the woman in the black robe fall.

"Well done, Texan, that was really impressive," the commander said over the mic.

"Copy that! You did great too," Link replied.

"F***, man, did you hear that?" The shooting assistant excitedly patted him on the shoulder, laughing.

"Get lost! Stay away from me," Link said coldly.

"Cut!"

That take was approved, but to improve the shot's quality, director Clint filmed another one.

The scene took a whole day to wrap up.

After filming, Link continued reading the script, preparing for the next day’s shoot.

While filming in Morocco, several people visited the set to see him, including Chris Liu, Emma Watson, Nozomi Sasaki, Jun Ji-hyun, and Kim Tae-yeon, staying with him for three to four days. Life on set was pretty good for Link.

He and the crew filmed in Morocco for over twenty days before returning to Southern California, in the Santa Clarita area, to continue shooting.

It wasn't until mid-July that he finally finished all his scenes.

After finishing this movie, he found himself deeply affected by the role, with his emotions resembling symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

On Ivanka’s suggestion, the whole family flew to Brazil to watch the World Cup. Since the venues were quite spread out, he and Ivanka didn’t travel too far, staying mostly in Rio de Janeiro and soaking up the local culture.

They watched the World Cup final at Maracanã Stadium, where Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 under Messi’s leadership, claiming the World Cup title.

He even won a few hundred dollars after betting with the kids.

In late July, after the World Cup ended, Link and Ivanka, along with their three still-excited kids, returned to Los Angeles.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 568: The End of Summer Box Office Season

July and August mark the hottest time of the year in Los Angeles, and this year is even worse, with outdoor temperatures soaring above 35°C (95°F). 

Adding to the dry air, Southern California has experienced nine wildfires since May, displacing over 30,000 people. The closest one to the hills near the mansion was the fire in Angeles National Forest, with thick smoke drifting from San Gabriel to the Santa Monica Mountains.

The weather was so dry, and with no pressing work to attend to, Link has been taking it easy since returning from Rio. Apart from his essential daily training, he’s spent most of his time caring for the three little ones.

Thanks to his attentive care, Taylor says the kids have become increasingly mischievous and disobedient, sometimes driving her to the point of wanting to hit someone. Since she can’t bring herself to hit the kids, Link has become her outlet. Even when they’re in bed, if she’s in a bad mood, she’ll take it out on him by biting or punching him.

If a man hits him, he’d punch back and knock them out. But when his woman hits him, he can’t respond with fists—he has to find another way to retaliate.

Now, in heavyweight class, Link weighs over 90 kilograms (200 pounds), and his physique has become even more muscular and fierce. His strength and power surpass his days in the light heavyweight division, so even Taylor, who’s headstrong and competitive, doesn’t dare to provoke him recklessly.

Ivanka’s similar in some ways, though she’s much more gentle. When needed, she knows when to back down, turning her steel resolve into gentle persuasion, making it impossible to bully her. But even if Taylor were knocked out, her spirit would still be fighting.

Sometimes, Link jokes that Taylor should try boxing, as her stubbornness might earn her a championship belt. Taylor scoffs at this, claiming to be a cultured young woman who would never resort to throwing punches. She teases him, calling him a beast, saying only beasts enjoy fighting.

Link counters by saying that a love for combat is inherent in males. Only those who win in battle earn status, food, and mating rights within the group, and everything he now possesses was fought for.

Taylor doesn’t agree but doesn’t argue, just wrinkles her nose, then turns to tell Alexander to behave and stop being naughty.

Alexander, ignoring her, sprays water from his toy gun onto her dress before running away.

Taylor, furious, grabs a bigger toy water gun and chases after him, shouting that she’ll "take down this ungrateful child."

Cynthia and little Margarita giggle, eagerly joining in the chase. Seeing the situation worsen, Alexander hides behind Link, clutching his head.

Link tells the little guy that running away won’t solve anything; he needs to face challenges bravely. Then, using Alexander as a shield, he blocks all the water shots, firing back with Alexander’s gun, and soon, all of them are running wild across the lawn.

Though they won the water fight, Link was scolded afterward by Taylor, who then banned the kids from playing with water guns, fearing they’d grow up liking real guns, which she deemed too dangerous.

Link thought Taylor, as a mom, was worrying way too much and showing signs of anxiety.

After a few days playing with the kids, Taylor returned to the studio to continue working on her new album, *1989*, set to release in October.

This album included five songs written by Link, which became major hits, unlike her previous albums. Initially, Taylor didn’t like them, but the company’s producers thought they were high-quality and a perfect fit for her. It would be a waste to let someone else sing them.

After thinking it over, Taylor reluctantly accepted the songs. At first, she didn’t want people to think Link’s songs were better than hers. But later, she accepted them because she didn’t want anyone else to sing songs he had written for her.

Women’s thoughts can be so complicated.

During his time at home as a stay-at-home dad, Link occasionally visited Paul Walker, who was recovering from his injuries.

After six months of treatment and rest, Paul was mostly healed, with his burn injuries nearly cured. However, his left knee was severely damaged, leaving him in a wheelchair.

When it came to driving, Paul now experienced panic attacks, feeling short of breath and pale whenever he sat in a car. It was said to be a post-traumatic stress disorder from the crash, requiring long-term psychological counseling.

Paul’s injury significantly impacted the production of *Fast & Furious 7*. Originally, they planned to have Paul’s brother temporarily take his place, but the results weren’t ideal. The crew decided to wait until Paul fully recovered before reshooting his scenes.

“Link, be careful when driving, too. If you’ve been drinking or doing drugs, never get behind the wheel,” Paul advised while sitting in his wheelchair on the lawn, patting his leg.

“Alright, although I don’t drink heavily or do drugs, I’ll take your advice,” Link shrugged.

“You know, sometimes I really admire you. No matter how much money or fame you have, you never lose control of yourself—well, except when it comes to women,” Paul quipped.

“If you hadn’t added that last part, I’d gladly accept the compliment,” Link replied with a shake of his head.

—

In early August, Link left home to join the *Expendables 3* crew, starting work on his final movie of the year.

The third *Expendables* movie centers on Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s retired mercenary leaders, with Link and Scarlett Johansson leading the new team. They face unprecedented challenges from their enemies—former comrades of Stallone and Schwarzenegger, now old mercenaries and arms dealer Stone Banks.

Their adversary’s elite mercenary team is a formidable force, numbering over a hundred and equipped with advanced weapons. To defeat them, Link and Scarlett, with guidance from Stallone and Schwarzenegger, recruit faster, stronger fighters and upgrade to high-tech equipment. The story culminates in an intense battle against Stone Banks’ team, where Link earns his teammates' respect and becomes the true leader of the Expendables.

The movie’s budget is a whopping $120 million, produced by Lionsgate, Millennium Films, Wanda Pictures, and Skydance Media.

Aside from Link and Scarlett, the cast includes Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Antonio Banderas, Harrison Ford, Alice Lee, Suzy Bae, and the villain Stone Banks, played by the famous actor Mel Gibson.

Filming locations include the U.S., Egypt, and Bulgaria, meaning Link will be traveling with the crew for a while.

“Scene one, take one, action!”

The filming begins with Link in a badass mercenary outfit, wielding a Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle, leading his team into a fierce battle on set.

During the shooting, Lionsgate released its tenth film, *John Wick*, followed by the eleventh film, *Madea’s Tough Love 4*.

*John Wick*, starring Keanu Reeves, tells the story of a retired assassin whose peaceful life is shattered when a group of thugs break into his home, steal his beloved Ford Mustang, and kill the dog his late wife left behind. In a quest for revenge, he tracks down and kills the thugs, only to discover that the gang leader is a powerful Russian mob boss.

To avenge his son, the mob boss hires Wick’s former teammate to take him out, but the teammate switches sides, helping Wick kill the mob boss in the end. Wick successfully avenges his dog and recovers his stolen car.

After its release, fans joked that it was "a movie about a dog sparking a bloodbath." The protagonist kills over a hundred people just to avenge his dog.

However, the film is actually based on a true story from a 2009 news report. A Navy SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, had his house broken into, and the intruders killed his dog, DASY. Seeking justice, Marcus took matters into his own hands, chased them down with a gun, and single-handedly brought the criminals to justice.

*John Wick* premiered in mid-July, grossing $19.53 million in its opening weekend and $44.93 million in North America by the end of its first month. 

International box office earnings were similar, with the film grossing $45.3 million across 60 countries in its first month. 

With a production budget of $20 million, the 4:1 revenue ratio made it a box-office success.

For Keanu Reeves, *John Wick* is his highest-grossing movie since *The Matrix* trilogy, temporarily shedding his reputation as a box-office curse.

Meanwhile, *Madea’s Tough Love 4* continued the crude humor of its predecessors, targeting a niche audience of African-American moviegoers. Although the movie’s quality was average, it still had a dedicated fan base.

*Madea’s Tough Love 4* premiered in mid-August with a solid $21.47 million opening weekend, landing third at the box office.

The top spot that weekend went to Disney’s *Guardians of the Galaxy*, grossing $134 million in its opening weekend. In second place was *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem*, which had earned $38.74 million that week, with a cumulative total of $128 million.

At the time *Madea’s Tough Love 4* was released, Lionsgate’s eighth and ninth films also revealed strong box-office performances.

"Neighbors" has been in theaters for over two months, grossing $158 million in North America and $134 million overseas, for a total box office of $292 million.

Compared to its $18 million production cost, this result far exceeded expectations, making it Lionsgate’s highest-grossing film since Divergent and We're the Millers.

The ninth film, Step Up: All In, has been out for over a month, earning $28.12 million in North America and $78.5 million overseas, for a total box office of $105 million.

Given its $15 million production cost, the 6:1 return makes it a box office hit.

Tyler Perry's Madea's Neighbors from Hell has been out for three weeks, grossing $52.21 million in North America and $8.74 million overseas.

With a production cost of $16 million, it remains profitable, continuing to be one of Lionsgate’s strongest series.

By September, as the summer blockbuster season comes to an end, the media begins to assess the summer box office results and the performances of major studios.

This summer, Lionsgate released six films: Ender’s Game, Divergent: Insurgent, Neighbors, Step Up: All In, John Wick, and Tyler Perry's Madea's Neighbors from Hell.

These films collectively grossed $510 million in North America.

Including five films released before May — Snowpiercer, Ride Along, The Call, We're the Millers, and The Grand Budapest Hotel — the total North American box office reached $450 million.

By September, Lionsgate had released 11 films, with four grossing over $100 million in North America, and nine earning over $50 million. The total North American box office hit $960 million, with a global total of approximately $2.3 billion.

This placed Lionsgate second among the new "Big Seven" studios.

At the top was Disney, which had released nine films so far, including Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Planes: Fire & Rescue, grossing a total of $1.02 billion in North America.

Disney held a narrow lead over Lionsgate.

However, considering Lionsgate still had major upcoming releases like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, Gone Girl starring Ben Affleck, and American Hustle, which was delayed from last year, The Hollywood Reporter predicted that Lionsgate had a good chance of overtaking Disney to claim the 2014 box office crown. This would be the first time in history that the traditional "Big Six" studios were surpassed in total box office earnings by another company — and a relatively young one at that, having been around for less than 20 years.

The Los Angeles Times also praised Lionsgate as a studio with strong creativity, consistently producing hit films, calling it a trendsetter in the Hollywood film industry.

These positive reports were partly driven by media enthusiasm and partly the work of Lionsgate’s marketing department, aimed at enhancing the studio's influence and reputation in the film industry and solidifying its position among the "New Big Seven."

Chapter 569: The White Lotus of the Music World

“Cut!”

“That’s a wrap!”

On the set of *The Expendables 3*, director Michael Bay looked at the camera and called it. 

After more than a month of filming, Link’s part was finished. Compared to the last movie, his role was slightly larger, but *The Expendables 3* is an ensemble film, so every actor only gets a few minutes of screen time. Even the main stars don’t have too many scenes.

Michael Bay, known for his love of big action sequences and explosive scenes (earning him the nickname “Boom Bay”), packed *The Expendables 3* with more special effects than the previous two movies combined. 

This caused the movie's budget to shoot up from an initial $120 million to $150 million. However, thanks to product placement for new weapons, cool cars, phones, computers, watches, and more, they received $68 million in advertising sponsorships, which helped ease the pressure on the producers.

But with so many ads and Michael Bay’s reputation for popcorn films, there’s a chance this movie might just end up as another popcorn flick.

How much the movie will gross, and whether it’ll lose money, won’t be known until it hits theaters.

After wrapping up filming, Link flew back to the U.S. to attend the 31st MTV Video Music Awards, held at the Inglewood Forum in California.

Compared to last year, this year’s music scene is dominated by singers born in the ‘90s, including Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, and Iggy Azalea, all of whom performed well this year.

Meanwhile, veteran artists spent the year publicly feuding. Notable names included Kesha, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga.

Justin Bieber also made headlines, after fighting with Orlando Bloom over Miranda Kerr. There was also the widely publicized incident where Beyoncé’s sister fought with Jay-Z, and Kanye West’s sour expression throughout his wedding to Kim Kardashian.

The feud between Kesha, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga started earlier this year when Kesha accused producer Dr. Luke of assault, which led to a countersuit from him, claiming defamation.

As the legal battle unfolded, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry publicly supported Kesha. Gaga revealed her own experiences with assault during school, which deepened her empathy.

Katy Perry, meanwhile, ended her contract with Dr. Luke’s label to show her support for Kesha. 

Both Link and Taylor Swift each donated $100,000 to the Joyful Heart Foundation to help sexual assault victims with their legal fees.

The case was widely covered, but due to insufficient evidence, Dr. Luke wasn’t convicted. Kesha heard rumors that Katy Perry had also been a victim of Dr. Luke and hoped she would testify. However, Perry denied these claims under oath.

Later, court documents leaked a conversation between Kesha and Lady Gaga, where Kesha criticized Perry for not stepping up to accuse Dr. Luke. Gaga suggested that Perry may have been unwilling to lose everything she had gained.

Once these conversations were leaked, fans of all three artists erupted in arguments across social media, turning the entertainment world upside down.

Although none of them released new albums, they frequently trended on social media due to the scandals.

Meanwhile, the fight between Beyoncé’s sister and Jay-Z happened after he allegedly cheated on Beyoncé with one of her friends while she was on tour. Beyoncé’s sister, Solange, was outraged and went after Jay-Z, leading to the incident being captured by paparazzi.

Beyoncé later forgave Jay-Z, earning praise from fans, who admired her composure.

In July, Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom got into a physical altercation in a Spanish restaurant, allegedly over Bieber’s affair with Bloom’s ex-wife, Miranda Kerr. Bieber had already been a tabloid fixture due to his controversies, including fighting, drunk driving, drug use, and soliciting prostitutes.

Given all the chaos this year, Link also found himself dragged into the spotlight again, with many media outlets expressing nostalgia for his days in the music industry. Although Link used to make headlines, it was usually about music chart battles or album promotions.

Even after his breakup with Taylor Swift, any rumors that surfaced stayed within a reasonable range. Link was never involved in scandals like drug use, solicitation, drunk driving, or assault.

When top artists were embroiled in scandals, some media outlets reported on Link’s recent work schedule, including boxing training, boxing matches, film promotion, movie shoots, attending Cannes Film Festival, and being a stay-at-home dad.

His packed schedule left little time for rest.

The media praised Link as a “model of the entertainment industry,” calling him a refreshing presence in the music world—an upright and admirable star. 

Despite his playboy image, in contrast to his peers, he was once again deemed “the perfect man,” a title he had held before his breakup with Taylor ten years ago, now returned to him by the media.

And this time, he seemed to wear it more securely.

All the scandals made this year’s MTV Video Music Awards particularly lively. The ‘80s-born singers, who used to sit together, were now scattered and behaved differently on camera. Meanwhile, the ‘90s-born artists still lacked a true leader like Link, Lady Gaga, or Taylor Swift. In terms of album stats or global influence, none of them could yet compete with the “One King, Four Queens,” making the ‘90s stars seem less formidable.

At this year’s MTV Awards, Link wasn’t a presenter or performer—he was the host.

The theme for all the performances at this year’s awards was boxing. All the invited performers incorporated boxing into their outfits or performances in some way. The stage was designed like a boxing ring, Katy Perry performed in boxing shorts and gloves, and Ariana Grande even wore Link’s WBA heavyweight championship belt during her performance. Selena Gomez also boxed on stage.

This type of event helped promote boxing matches, and Link was happy to lend a hand.

This year, Miley Cyrus won Video of the Year with *Wrecking Ball*. 

Katy Perry’s *Dark Horse* won Best Female Video, Ed Sheeran’s *Sing* won Best Male Video, and Ariana Grande’s *Problem* won Best Pop Video.

The biggest winner was Beyoncé, who took home three out of her eight nominations, while Eminem took home one out of six.

Other awards were spread out, with Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey, Charlie Puth, Sia, Fifth Harmony, and Drake winning technical awards.

Compared to previous years, there were fewer hit songs in the music world this year. The best-selling single was Pharrell Williams’ *Happy*, with 5.63 million copies sold. Katy Perry’s *Dark Horse* came in second with 4.04 million, and other singles sold fewer than 4 million copies.

Ariana Grande’s *Problem* sold 3.54 million copies, and Lana Del Rey’s *Ultraviolence* sold 3.32 million. Even British singer Sam Smith’s new album fell short of last year’s numbers.

Before September, there were only 36 singles that had sold more than a million copies, 15 fewer than last year. Total album sales were 120.9 million, a 15% drop from last year, while single sales dropped 13%.

The best-selling album this year was the *Frozen* soundtrack, with 3.23 million copies sold.

Link’s fifth album *As It Was*, released in August two years ago, sold 1.87 million copies this year, placing it second overall, with total U.S. sales of 15.05 million copies.

British singer Sam Smith’s album *In the Lonely Hour* sold 1.21 million, placing third.

Based on the current trend, if there aren’t any big albums to save the market, this year will be the worst in the music industry since 2000.

“Nothing good has come out this year. Have you thought about writing a few songs for your fans?” Taylor asked him after the awards ceremony.

“They don’t need me. Your new album’s great, they can listen to that.”

Link smiled.

“Of course! The production quality on this album is top-notch. Believe me, my *1989* will sell more than your... first album,” Taylor said, giving him a playful glare. She initially wanted to say it would sell more than his last album, but she remembered Link’s fifth album sold over 15 million copies in the U.S. alone—too high to beat. His fourth album also surpassed 10 million, and even his second and third albums had sold over 7 million. His worst-performing debut album *The Fighter* was approaching 5 million.

After thinking it over, she realized only Link’s first album was within reach, which made her grumble internally. This guy, who entered the music world halfway through, had already become an unreachable mountain, and now she, his former teacher, had to look up to him.

It was infuriating.

She still remembered how, when they first met in 2008, Link couldn’t even play the guitar. His fingers were as stiff as rocks, and she had to teach him from scratch. He didn’t even understand sheet music.

In six short years, this guy had become a towering figure in the music world, a living legend.

Sometimes it felt surreal.

“You should have more confidence. Your album has great songs, it could sell ten million in the U.S.,” Link said with a light laugh.

“I don’t care how many it sells. It doesn’t matter to me anymore,” Taylor said, her blue fox-like eyes twinkling. She suddenly looked at his cheek. “How long have we known each other?”

"Six years, six years and three months."

Link thought for a moment and said.

"Does it feel like time has flown by?"

Taylor asked with a slight smile.

"Yes, in the blink of an eye. In a blink, Alexander and Cynthia have grown into little adults."

Link laughed.

Taylor let out a soft huff, kicked him lightly, and said discontentedly, "You’ve wasted all my time over these six years. You owe me compensation for my lost youth."

"Alright, I’ll pay!"

Link wrapped his arms around her waist. Ignoring the mother of his children’s resistance, he kissed her passionately. Taylor punched him, but gradually melted into his embrace, her arms wrapping around his neck.

"."

Beside them, Selina blinked her big, dark eyes, full of confusion. She had just skimmed through a few news articles, and when she looked up, the two were already making out, completely ignoring her presence.

"Hey, that’s too much! I’m still here, okay?"

Seeing Link’s hand almost slip under Taylor’s dress, Selina covered her eyes and shouted in discontent.

"Huh? Why are you here?"

Link asked, puzzled.

Selina puffed up her round little cheeks and glared at him angrily. Link was the worst—completely prioritizing romance over friendship. Sometimes, he even forgot about his sister. Too much!

Taylor, her face flushed, pushed Link away and sat down next to Selina, ready to team up against him.

Link smiled lightly and went back to reading his magazine, ignoring the glares from the two of them.

The car pulled away from the stadium and gradually merged into the dense traffic of Los Angeles as dusk settled.

(End of chapter)

**Chapter 570: Link's Scandal**

Right after the MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift released the first promotional single, "Shake It Off," from her fifth album, *1989*.

This single, co-written by Link and Taylor, topped the charts in 24 countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Hungary. It also held the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and ranked second for eight weeks. In its first month, it sold 6.2 million copies in the U.S., surpassing the year's top-selling single, "Happy," and is on track to become a "diamond single."

With the promotional single a huge success and *1989* about to be released, Taylor began a heavy promotional tour. Her packed schedule left her little time to stay at home, so Link took on the responsibility of caring for Alexander and Cynthia.

During this period, Link wasn’t too busy, so he stayed home, took care of the kids, and trained for his upcoming boxing match. 

However, being a superstar in the entertainment industry meant that, even when doing nothing, rumors still found their way to him.

For instance, in early September, Hollywood's "Gossip Queen," Lindsay Lohan, revealed on a talk show that she had been intimate with 36 men. These men included stars like Justin Timberlake, Zac Efron, James Franco, Colin Farrell, Orlando Bloom, and Ashton Kutcher, earning her the nickname "Hollywood Stamp Collector."

During the show, the host asked if Link was one of them. Link had a playboy past, and they had crossed paths a few times. For instance, when Link released *The Woman I Love* and staged the "falling while flaunting wealth" incident, Lindsay Lohan had also been involved.

When the host asked the question, Lindsay hesitated for two seconds before saying no, clarifying that she and Link were just friends who had attended a few of his parties but had never been intimate.

Despite her explanation, the two-second pause and her ambiguous expression led viewers to speculate that they had an inappropriate relationship and that Link had been "collected."

Link couldn’t come forward to explain this kind of rumor, knowing that with his status and influence, the more he explained, the bigger the issue would become. Instead, he explained the situation to Ivanka and Taylor at home, insisting that he had no involvement with Lindsay Lohan.

Ivanka believed him since she had orchestrated the "falling while flaunting wealth" incident, and Lohan had been involved through Paris Hilton, not Link.

However, Taylor didn’t buy it. She accused him of having no taste, claiming he wasn’t picky and would even go for someone like Lindsay Lohan. She teased him, asking how it felt to be "collected."

Link couldn’t offer much of an explanation and let Taylor continue to poke fun at him.

Lohan's confession caused quite a stir. During an interview with *Vanity Fair*, Jennifer Lawrence was asked about the incident. She coldly laughed, dismissing it as false, adding that if Lindsay had indeed been intimate with Link, she wouldn’t need to seek attention in such a manner.

Though Jennifer’s comment cleared Link's name, it led to an even bigger story as media outlets investigated. They discovered that actresses rumored to have been linked to or dated Link were now doing quite well in their careers.

Taylor Swift had become a global pop sensation. Jennifer Lawrence, an Academy Award winner and one of the top-earning actresses, had been in the top three of the highest-paid actresses list for two consecutive years. Alexandra Daddario, known as the "Queen of Horror Films," was receiving better offers and earning millions. 

Marion Cotillard was France's top actress and a shareholder of Paris Rose Films, with a net worth of tens of millions of euros. Emma Watson, while spending less time in the U.S., remained a popular star.

Amber Heard, another rumored ex, had married Johnny Depp, while Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes, who briefly dated Link, was now married to a billionaire and had just become a mother in July.

Even Emma Stone, another rumored ex, was currently a top actress.

Then there was Ivanka, Link’s legitimate wife, whose net worth had surpassed $1 billion this year. It seemed that the closer one got to Link, the more successful their career became.

As a result, the general consensus was that Jennifer Lawrence was right: Lindsay Lohan had nothing to do with Link, or she wouldn’t be struggling while Link’s rumored girlfriends were thriving.

At the same time, the media also realized that Link, once labeled Hollywood’s number-one playboy, wasn’t living up to the title. 

Despite being a global superstar, sex symbol, and billionaire, Link had been involved with fewer than ten women during his years in Hollywood. In contrast, stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, James Franco, and Ashton Kutcher often cycled through multiple partners in a single year.

Compared to them, Link hardly seemed like a playboy at all. Moreover, the women involved in scandals with Link were the same few, suggesting that he was quite loyal.

With the media’s portrayal, Link unintentionally became Hollywood’s "good guy," a rare clean and perfect gentleman.

"Is this our PR team guiding public opinion?" Link asked as he read the headlines in disbelief. It seemed impossible that he, with so many rumored girlfriends, could be labeled a "good guy."

Ivanka smiled as she set down her coffee cup. "Our PR department hasn’t reported any such work recently. It’s probably not them."

"Are the media promoting me on their own?" Link shook his head, finding it unlikely that the media would be so generous. There had to be some ulterior motive.

"Darling, have you considered the possibility that you’re actually a good guy, and the media is just reporting the truth?" Ivanka teased, her lips curving into a smile.

"A good guy? Am I? I think someone like Tom Hanks qualifies as a good guy."

"Dear, you are hardworking, ambitious, live a healthy lifestyle, are great to me and the kids, and always take care of your friends. To me, you're the best man in the world."

Ivanka smiled indulgently as she held his hand.

Link gave a soft smile and kissed the back of her hand. "You're also the best woman in my heart."

Ding-a-ling!  
Just as the two were about to kiss, the phone on the table rang. It was a call from Leonardo.

"What's up?"

"Hehe, Link, I heard you've become the entertainment industry's top good guy. Congrats on your transformation from playboy to good man. How does it feel?"

"Just get to the point and stop with the sarcasm."

"Hmph, while you're promoting yourself as a 'good man,' could you not use me as the bad example? Sure, I might be a flirt, but I don’t juggle multiple women at once. Compared to you, I'm the real good guy."

Leonardo said with discontent.

"What do you mean I'm promoting myself as a good man? You think I arranged those news stories?"

"Didn't you?"

"I'm not that bored. With my status, what difference does an extra 'good man' label make? I’ve got a wife and kids now, unlike you, still single, needing to fake being a good guy to woo young women."

"Shit! Who are you calling a liar?"

"How's the movie going?"

Link didn’t want to argue further and changed the subject.

Leonardo was currently filming for *The Revenant*. Before this, he had also produced a documentary about poachers called *Virunga*, focusing on a group of poachers in Africa's oldest national park, hunting endangered mountain gorillas, and their battle with the park's management team.

The documentary, co-produced by Appian Way Productions and Netflix, had Leonardo as the producer. The story had some similarities to *The Revenant*, and Leonardo hoped the documentary would help him better understand hunters' stories, providing inspiration for his role in *The Revenant*.

After finishing the documentary, Leonardo joined *The Revenant* crew, with filming taking place in national forests across Canada and the U.S., expected to wrap up early next year.

When asked about the movie, Leonardo complained about the harsh filming conditions.

Sleeping in the van at night, he could hear wolves howling in Calgary's Dinosaur Valley. One morning, after stepping out of the van, he nearly stepped on a frozen snake. A vegetarian, he was forced to eat raw beef for the role, nearly vomiting afterward.

Link teased that if Leonardo wanted to win the Oscar for Best Actor, he'd have to suffer more—like being chased by wolves or finding snakes in his bed.

Leonardo cursed, saying he was in the industry for the love of filmmaking, not just to win awards.

Link told him to remember that the next time he didn’t win an Oscar and wanted to complain.

After chatting a bit more, Link hung up the phone and returned to reading the news.

In September, Lionsgate released two films: *Whiplash* and *The Conjuring 2*.

*Whiplash* premiered on Friday, September 5th, telling the story of a young drummer resisting a tyrannical music instructor's psychological abuse. The movie finished filming late last year and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 30th Sundance Film Festival in January, and Best Director at Cannes in May.

The film was released in over 20 countries and regions, grossing $43.89 million. In its North American limited release in six theaters, it earned $370,000 in its opening weekend, with an average of $8,085 per theater, a solid performance.

Critically, it received strong praise. Lead actor Miles Teller's performance was highly lauded, while J.K. Simmons, who played the menacing instructor, was described by outlets like *The New York Post* and *Variety* as "the most terrifying non-horror character of the year" and "the most intense on-screen presence."

The film received an 87 on Metacritic, with 18 outlets giving it a score of 95 or higher. Rotten Tomatoes rated it 76% fresh, and IMDb gave it an 8.7.

Thanks to positive reviews, the film expanded to 1,028 theaters in its second week, earning $6.67 million. After four weeks, it grossed $29.89 million in North America and over $74 million worldwide.

*Whiplash* was produced for $4 million with an additional $3 million for marketing. The film’s 10x return on investment made it a box-office hit.

However, Lionsgate had so many successes this year that the industry had become somewhat desensitized to 10x returns. In fact, the failure of *Ender’s Game*, which lost money, seemed more unusual.

*The Conjuring 2* released on September 26th.

The first in the series premiered in October 2012, earning $350 million globally on a $20 million budget, setting a record for the highest-grossing original horror film and winning a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. It was also listed as one of the top 10 horror films of 2012.

*The Conjuring 2*, directed by James Wan, stars Patrick Wilson, Alexandra Daddario, Vera Farmiga, and Madison Wolfe. It’s based on the true story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they help a single mother and her four children in a terrifying case of demonic possession.

The film grossed $56.17 million in its opening weekend across 3,343 theaters and went on to earn $112 million in North America in its first month.

It became Lionsgate's fifth film to surpass $100 million in North American box office revenue.

Internationally, it performed even better, grossing $233 million across 70 countries and regions, with a total global box office of $345 million.

With a production budget of $35 million, *The Conjuring 2* generated nearly a 10x return, with Lionsgate profiting over $100 million from the project.

Lionsgate’s two September releases both achieved over 10x returns, leaving competitors feeling powerless. It seemed as if Lionsgate films were perfectly crafted for fans, with audiences consistently turning out to support their projects.

At this rate, Lionsgate might soon rival studios like Universal or Warner Bros. in a few years.

(End of chapter)