After the 2026 Lunar New Year film season ended, the box office growth momentum in China slowed down. Currently, the movie "Tiêu nhân: Phong khởi đại mạc" has not yet exceeded the revenue milestone of 1 billion CNY, the foundation predicts total box office revenue of about 1.3 billion CNY.
Jet Li's old saying: "For more than ten years, the best-selling martial arts film has only grossed about 1.2 billion RMB" has almost become a prophecy. No matter how praised "The Catman" is, it is difficult to overcome this barrier.
The entertainment industry spread information that the production cost of "Tiêu nhân" is 700 million CNY, but even though the cost is only at 500 million CNY, with 1.3 billion CNY of predicted ticket money, plus distribution and promotion costs, the film is still losing money.
With the grand investment and dedication of the cast, this result makes many people regretful.
However, standing in the position of director Yuan Heping and actor Wu Jing, as long as "Xiao Ren" is completed, released in theaters and receives recognition from the audience, they are satisfied.
Ngo Kinh once shared that martial arts films are gradually fading, the martial arts successor class is broken, if we don't do it now, when will we wait? The promotion side also continuously emphasized the "4 generations of martial arts converging" (Ngo Kinh, Ly Lien Kiet, Ta Dinh Phong, Truong Tan, Hue Anh Hong, Vu Vinh Quang... ), taking nostalgia as the focus.
But the real reason why Ngo Kinh accepted the film, he has never clearly stated. Later, his partner, producer Du Bach Mi, revealed it in an exchange.
Du Bach Mi recounted that when director Vien Hoa Binh found Ngo Kinh and said he wanted to make the movie "Tieu Nhan", Ngo Kinh asked for his opinion. Du Bach Mi immediately stopped him because martial arts films are too difficult to make, and not the mainstream film genre of the market.
Analyzing back and forth, Ngo Kinh found it very reasonable. When meeting Vien Hoa Binh, he also said that this project is difficult, has a large budget, and does not suit the current tastes, so it must be considered.
As a result, Yuen Woo-ping held Wu Jing's hand and said one sentence: "Wu Jing, maybe this is the last movie of my life". These words made Wu Jing unable to refuse. He immediately replied: "This movie, I accept".
Leaving the door, the martial arts star immediately called Du Bach Mi: "We have to finish this.
According to media reports, Ngo Kinh, despite the risk of losing capital, still decided to make the movie "Tieu Nhan" because director Vien Hoa Binh once had the grace to support and recognize him.
Their first collaboration was the movie "Tai Chi Boxer". After that, Yuan Heping repeatedly gave Wu Jing opportunities, inviting him to star in the TV series "The Tai Chi Master", laying the foundation for his position as a martial arts star later.
After that, they also collaborated in martial arts films "Tiểu lý phi đao", "Tân thiếu lâm tự", and he also introduced Wu Jing to his older brother Viên Tường Nhân to play "Nam thiếu lâm".
Therefore, Wu Jing is always grateful to Yuan Heping, every time he appears publicly, he respects him as a master.
With Jet Li as well - under the direction of Yuen Woo-ping, he has classic works such as "Tinh Vo Anh Hung", "Thai Chi Truong Tam Phong". Without Yuen Woo-ping, perhaps Wu Jing would have been difficult to invite Jet Li - who had almost withdrawn to the backstage to participate in "Xiao Ren".
It is because of that ignition that there is a special guest scene in "Titao Nhan": Vien Hoa Binh, Ngo Ban and director Truong Ham Vien, over 90 years old, appear together.
Ngo Kinh has wholeheartedly supported Vien Hoa Binh, without needing to reciprocate. He even prepared the psychology that the film might lose money.
Vien Hoa Binh is mainly in charge of filming at the scene, many other tasks are undertaken by Ngo Kinh, including inviting and selecting the entire cast. He is also in charge of training martial arts and riding horses for everyone, all costing money and effort.
According to the documentary, from the martial arts training ground to the horse racing school are all provided by Ngo Kinh's "Photo of the Martial Arts Hall", plus the cost of trainers... it can be said that the support is uncalculated.
However, Ngo Kinh does not put himself in the center. In the producer list, he resolutely put Vien Hoa Binh's company at the top, and his company ranked third.
Despite handling all big and small tasks and taking on many scenes, he still let his master keep the sole director title. That is how he repays gratitude and expresses the inherited spirit of the martial arts world.
