Cesium Fallout

Last updated
Cesium Fallout
CesiumFallout.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese 焚城
Simplified Chinese 焚城
Literal meaningBurning City
Hanyu Pinyin Fén Chéng
Jyutping Fan4 Sing4
Directed by Anthony Pun
Written byMak Tin-shu
Shum Kwan-sin
Wong Wing-yiu
Frances To
Oscar Fung
Produced by Andy Lau
William Kong
Anthony Pun
Starring Andy Lau
Bai Yu
Karen Mok
CinematographyAnthony Pun
Edited by Cheung Ka-fai
Music by Elliot Leung
Production
company
Distributed byEdko Films
Release date
  • 1 November 2024 (2024-11-01)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Box officeUS$40.9 million [a]

Cesium Fallout is a 2024 Hong Kong action disaster film produced and directed by Anthony Pun, produced by and starring Andy Lau. Touted as the first nuclear radiation disaster-themed blockbuster production from Hong Kong, the film revolves around an accidental radioactive leak in the city which puts the lives of seven million citizens at risk.

Contents

Production took place throughout 2024, [1] and was theatrically released on 1 November 2024. [2] [3]

Plot Summary

In 1996, Financial Secretary Simon Fan (played by Andy Lau) loosens container inspection regulations, allowing unscrupulous traders to exploit loopholes to import dangerous goods. Thus a fire breaks out at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals, resulting in deaths of several firefighters, including his wife, May Lai. Following this tragedy, Simon Fan leaves political field, pursues degrees, and becomes a waste management expert.

In 2007, a high-intensity radioactive material, cesium-137, suddenly leaks at the "Hung Lik Recycling Yard" in Queen's Hill, Fanling. Tropical Storm "Murphy" is looming, which means that radiation could spread across Hong Kong within 24 hours, putting seven million people in grave danger. To avoid causing public panic, Hong Kong government officials decide to withhold information about the radiation. Simon Fan and main officals headed by the Acting Chief Executive, Cecilia Wong (played by Karen Mok), engage in a fierce confrontation, as Simon fights to secure a chance of survival for the public. Meanwhile, fire station officer Lai Kit-fung (played by Bai Yu) and his teammates are dispatched to the unknown front line, unaware that there may be more behind this disaster than meets the eye.

Cast

Guest appearances

Production

The film was publicly announced during filming on 17 June 2024, where producer Edko Films officially released a teaser poster which also states the release date within 2024 [2] despite reports from Variety that the film was expected to complete production by the end of the year. [1] The same day, producer Bill Kong, alongside cast members Bai Yu and Louise Wong, promoted the film during a presentation event at the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, where Bai and Wong revealed their roles as firefighters in the film. Producer and star Andy Lau also appeared via a pre-recorded video discussing his role as a radiation crisis expert, as well as production of disaster spectacles and themes of humanity. [5]

On 19 July 2024, Karen Mok revealed that she had to memorise many professional terms for her role and will start working on promotions by the latter half of the year. [6]

Release

Cesium Fallout was theatrically released on 1 November 2024 in Hong Kong. [2] [3] The film was marketed alongside another Hong Kong film The Last Dance during its early release, offering a packaged ticket set that allowed purchasers to watch both films at a discounted price in November. [7] [8]

Box office

Cesium Fallout has grossed a total of US$40.9 million worldwide combining its box office gross from Hong Kong (US$4.9 million) [9] and China. (US$36 million) [10]

The film debuted at No. 1 during its opening weekend in Hong Kong grossing HK$9,281,777 (US$1,193,494) during its first three days of release, while accumulating a total of HK$10,073,229 (US$1,295,262) by then end of the weekend including preview screenings. [11] In its second weekend, the film grossed HK$10,490,080 (US$1,349,267) while coming in at No. 2, and have grossed a total of HK$20,595,076 (US$2,649,004) by then. [12] The film remained at No. 2 during its third weekend grossing HK$7,556,285 (US$970,594), while having accumulated a total gross of HK$28,150,016 (US$3,615,828) by then. [13] The film stayed at No. 2 for its third consecutive week by its fourth weekend grossing HK$5,084,267 (US$653,129), while having grossed a total of HK$32,251,872 (US$4,143,099) so far. [14] The film stayed at No. 2 for its fourth consecutive week during its fifth weekend grossing HK$5,084,267 (US$472,743), while having grossed a total of HK$35,930,694 (US$3,678,822) by then. [15] During its fifth weekend, the film grossed HK$2,169,195 (US$278,843), while accumulating a total gross of HK$38,100,819 (US$4,897,731) by then. [16] [17]

In China, the film debuted at No. 2 during its opening weekend, grossing US$11.6 million during its first three days of release and accumulating a total gross of US$12.4 million including previews. [18] The film moved up to No. 1 during its second weekend grossing US$13.4 million, while having a cumulative gross of US$25.8 million by then. [19] During its third weekend, the film grossed US$7.5 million, coming in at No. 3, while having accumulated a total gross of US$33.3 million by then. [20] The film grossed US$2.7 million in its fourth weekend, coming in at No. 7, and have grossed a total of US$36 million so far. [21] The film grossed US$2.7 million in its fourth weekend, coming in at No. 7, and have grossed a total of US$36 million so far. [10]

Critical reception

James Marsh of Deadline Hollywood praises Anthony Pun's cinematography, noting its visual coherence and ultimately writes Cesium Fallout bombards its audience with a cacophony of mindless destruction and muddled messaging, yet somehow fails to illustrate just what it is that these individuals are so courageously fighting for." [22]

See also

Notes

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References

  1. 1 2 "Feng Xiaogang, Xu Zheng and Guan Hu Tentpole Films in the Works as Alibaba Pictures Unveils Blockbuster Slate at Shanghai". 20 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "香港史上首部輻射災難鉅製 劉德華莫文蔚《焚城》今年上映 (18:04)".
  3. 1 2 "香港史上首部輻射災難鉅製《焚城》 劉德華X白宇X莫文蔚攜手拯救危城". 18 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Ho, Keith (1 November 2024). "《焚城》群星如雲 首部華語輻射電影諷刺官僚扣人心弦". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "30秒 刘德华白宇莫文蔚新片《焚城》今年将映，监制江志强：有幸碰到好题材".
  6. ↑ "莫文蔚新歌飆高音 合作劉德華《焚城》". 19 July 2024.
  7. ↑ 許育民 (30 October 2024). "《焚城》《破‧地獄》聯手推電影套票　江志強︰一文一武闢新天地". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "《焚城》《破 · 地獄》$120電影套票　11.1開售限量1,000套". TOPick (in Chinese). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Cesium Fallout - Box Office Mojo".
  10. 1 2 "China Weekly Box Office (11/18 - 11/24/2024)".
  11. ↑ "Hong Kong 2024 Weekend 44 October 31-November 3, 2024".
  12. ↑ "Hong Kong 2024 Weekend 45 November 7-10, 2024".
  13. ↑ "Hong Kong 2024 Weekend 46 November 14-17, 2024".
  14. ↑ "Hong Kong 2024 Weekend 47 November 21-24, 2024".
  15. ↑ "Hong Kong 2024 Weekend 48 November 28-December 1, 2024".
  16. ↑ "Hong Kong 2024 Weekend 48 December 5-8, 2024".
  17. ↑ "Hong Kong Weekly Box Office".
  18. ↑ "China Weekly Box Office (10/28 - 11/03/2024)".
  19. ↑ "China Weekly Box Office (11/04 - 11/10/2024)".
  20. ↑ "China Weekly Box Office (11/11 - 11/17/2024)".
  21. ↑ "China Weekly Box Office (11/11 - 11/17/2024)".
  22. ↑ "'Cesium Fallout' Review: Andy Lau & Karen Mok Lead Bombastic Hong Kong Disaster Flick That Teases At A Satirical Hunger Beneath Its Brash Exterior". November 2024.
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