LOST IN HONG KONG surpasses box office expectations in Singapore

Lost in Hong Kong, the current box office champion in China, is performing extraordinarily well at the local box office in Singapore amidst strong competition. In less than two weeks of its release on 1 Oct, the comedy blockbuster has grossed over S$217,000, far surpassing its initial projected box office target of S$100,000. Its second week results outperformed its opening week, which makes this film an outstanding success. The number of screens has also expanded from five to eight to cater to the demand. Much is due to the film’s phenomenal reception among local audiences, who resonated with the film’s homage to Hong Kong’s culture classics and who were highly entertained by the hilarious, action-packed scenes.

Through this film, director-actor Xu Zheng fulfilled his vision of bringing laughter to audiences everywhere. Along with Vicki Zhao Wei and Bao Bei’er, the trio embark on a madcap journey throughout the city in a meaningful story that speaks of youth, regret, sacrifice and love. Xu Zheng plays a middle-aged, jaded bra designer, Xu Lai, who struggles with his mediocre existence, after having to abandon his artistic aspirations in his marriage to Cai Bo (Vicki Zhao Wei). During a holiday to Hong Kong with his wife and her family, Xu Lai plans for a rendezvous with his college sweetheart who lives in the city. To his dismay, he is hindered by his brother-in-law Lala (Bao Bei’er). Lala is a silly youngster who used to sell pirated DVDs, but now chases his dream of becoming a director, aiming to make a documentary of his family’s trip in Hong Kong. Besides recording the cityscape and food, Lala’s footage also by accident captures Xu’s secret agenda, and he sets out to stop him.

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LOST IN HONG KONG breaks numerous records on China's opening night

Director-actor Xu Zheng’s newest film Lost in Hong Kong is off to a phenomenal start, grossing over ten million for its opening release yesterday, Sep 24, in China. The film’s opening box office topped the record held for Chinese films and exceeded that of Mission: Impossible 5 -12 Rouge Nation. This highly anticipated Mandarin action-comedy simultaneously set precedents for having the highest numbers of audiences and screenings on opening day for a Chinese film. Breaking the domestic midnight box office in a single night, the film attracted over 300,000 expectant audiences to 4000 midnight screenings nationwide. The film now not only holds the 2D midnight box office record in China, but also topped the number of screenings ever held for a 2D film in one day.

Produced, written and directed by Xu Zheng, Lost in Hong Kong is the latest installment to funnyman’s Lost film comedy series. Xu’s directorial debut Lost in Thailand (2012) remains one of the top domestic box office hits in China, achieving an astounding success of over 1.2 billion, and was thus conferred the title of “All-Time No. 1 Comedy” in China by critics and fans alike. Xu again directs and acts in this second film—playing a jaded bra designer who is seeking to reclaim his youthful aspirations. Joining the cast this time are acclaimed actress and director Zhao Wei, who plays Xu’s wife in the film, and actor Bao Bei’er in the role of Xu’s silly brother-in-law. Renowned Hong Kong comedy director Wang Jing makes a special guest appearance to boost Xu’s film.

During a holiday to Hong Kong with his wife and her family, Xu Lai (Xu Zheng) plans for a rendezvous with his university sweetheart who lives in the city. The two used to share the same artistic aspirations. To his dismay, he is hindered by his brother-in-law Lala (Bao Bei’er). Lala is a silly youngster who sells pirated DVDs, but now chases his dream of becoming a director, aiming to make a documentary of his family’s trip in Hong Kong. Besides recording the cityscape and food, Lala’s footage also by accident captures Xu’s secret agenda, and he sets out to stop him. While the usual hilarity ensues, filmgoers can also look forward to high-impact action scenes such as car chases, showdowns and explosions in this film, as Xu and Bao embark on an adrenaline-packed chase around Hong Kong.

Hilarious antics ensue, as the two try to shake off each other on a tumultuous chase that takes them from Mong Kok to Central and from Nathan Road to Causeway Bay. Policemen, gangsters, foreigners and prostitutes all band together in their disapproval for the two, who run for their lives in an action-packed journey throughout Hong Kong. The quest to go on a secret date turns into a thrilling adventure that is fraught with peril.

Lost in Hong Kong releases in Singapore on 1 October 2015. The film is co-distributed by Encore Films and Golden Village Pictures in Singapore.