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香港電影業如何起死回生?/ How Can the Hong Kong Film Industry Be Revived?
文章
2025 年 2 月 11 日
農曆新年期間,一家大小相聚到戲院觀賞「賀歲片」是香港多年來的風潮。但據香港票房有限公司統計,今年本港除夕至初四的5日賀歲檔期,票房總收入只有約3060萬元,較去年同期下跌37%,較疫情前的2019年更下跌近60%,屬近10年間最差,香港的電影業正陷入低潮。
相反,新春期間內地戲院十分旺場,根據國家電影局統計,截至2月5日早上,春節檔期票房為95.1億元人民幣,觀影人次為1.87億,創下歷史新高。票房冠軍是動畫片《哪吒之魔童鬧海》,票房突破50億元;對於一套動畫片取得如此好的成績,我不感到奇怪,我記得兩年前看過另一套動畫片《長安三萬里》,我當時已經覺得非常出色,人物栩栩如生,故事完整,是中國創意產業的一大成就。
有資深製片人表示「香港的電影業差不多玩完」。我認為第一個原因是投資者少,很多往日的投資者都裹足不前,只剩古天樂等的大明星和為數不多的公司投資電影;第二是港人的娛樂習慣已改變,環觀全球電影業市場,均被串流平台搶了很多客,現時很多大片如《帝國驕雄II》,已經很快能在串流平台上看得到,年輕人在手機上觀看已經很滿意,因此戲院的觀眾群萎縮得很厲害,去年香港已有9間戲院相繼宣布結業或停業。
另一個原因是,香港的市場始終小,中國開放市場後,香港的電影製作人、編導、演員已經紛紛北上「搵真銀」,他們在內地的成績都相當不錯,例如兩套內地「爆款」劇集《三生三世十里桃花》和《陳情令》,這兩套都有港人參與執導,據說香港編導在內地頗受歡迎,原因是他們懂得省錢。
雖然近年有幾套港產片非常出色,如《毒舌大狀》、《九龍城寨之圍城》、《破.地獄》,在內地市場相當賣座,口碑、票房和國際反應都不錯;但有資深製片人表示,這只是個別電影的成績,整個電影行業仍是死氣沉沉。下篇再拆解有何辦法挽救香港電影業。
How Can the Hong Kong Film Industry Be Revived?
During the Chinese New Year, it has been a long-standing tradition in Hong Kong for families to gather at cinemas to watch "New Year movies." However, according to statistics from the Hong Kong Box Office Limited, the total box office revenue during the five-day New Year period from New Year's Eve to the fourth day of the Lunar New Year this year was only about HKD 30.6 million, a 37% drop compared to the same period last year and nearly a 60% decline compared to pre-pandemic 2019, marking the worst performance in the past decade. The Hong Kong film industry is currently in a slump.
In contrast, mainland cinemas were bustling during the Spring Festival. According to statistics from the China Film Administration, as of the morning of February 5, the box office revenue for the Spring Festival period reached RMB 9.51 billion, with 187 million moviegoers, setting a historical record. The box office champion was the animated film "Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child," which grossed over RMB 5 billion. I am not surprised by the success of an animated film achieving such results. I remember watching another animated film, "Chang An," two years ago, and I was already very impressed by its vivid characters and complete storyline, which is a significant achievement for China's creative industry.
A seasoned producer remarked that "the Hong Kong film industry is almost finished." I believe the first reason is the lack of investors. Many former investors have become hesitant, leaving only a few big stars like Louis Koo and a handful of companies to invest in films. The second reason is the change in entertainment habits among Hong Kong people. Globally, the film industry has lost many customers to streaming platforms. Nowadays, many blockbusters, such as "Gladiator II," can be quickly viewed on streaming platforms, and young people are satisfied with watching movies on their phones, leading to a significant shrinkage in cinema audiences. Last year, nine cinemas in Hong Kong announced closures or suspensions of business.
Another reason is that Hong Kong's market is ultimately small. After China opened its market, Hong Kong filmmakers, directors, and actors have flocked north to "make real money," and they have achieved considerable success in the mainland. For example, two mainland hit series, "Eternal Love" and "The Untamed," both had Hong Kong directors involved. It is said that Hong Kong directors are quite popular in the mainland because they know how to save money.
Although there have been several outstanding Hong Kong films in recent years, such as "A Guilty Conscience," "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In," and "The Last Dance," which have been quite successful in the mainland market with good word of mouth, box office, and international response, a seasoned producer stated that these are just the achievements of individual films, and the entire film industry remains lifeless. The next article will explore ways to revive the Hong Kong film industry.
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