{{short description|2023 Chinese-Hong Kong film by Ning Hao}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox film | name = The Movie Emperor | image = TheMovieEmperor.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|s=红毯先生|紅毯先生 |t=紅毯先生 |l=Mr Red Carpet}} | director = [[Ning Hao]] | producer = {{Plain list| * Wang Yibing * Daniel Yu * Winnie Liao * Xing Aina}} | writer = {{Ubl|Liu Xiaodan| Wang Ang|Daniel Yu}} | starring = {{Plain list| * [[Andy Lau]]}} | music = {{Ubl|Raymond Wong |Russel C J Wong}} | cinematography = Wang Boxue | editing = Du Yuan | studio = {{Plain list| * Huanxi Media Group Limited (Shanghai) * Huanxi Media Group Limited * Huanxi Media Group Limited (Beijing) * Dirty Monkeys (Shanghai) Culture Communication Ltd.}} | distributor = CMC Pictures | released = {{Film date|2023|09|15|[[2023 Toronto International Film Festival|TIFF]]|2024|3|15|China}} | runtime = 127 minutes | country = China<ref name="filmcountry">{{Cite web |url=https://sino-cinema.com/2024/11/23/review-the-movie-emperor-2023/ |title=Review: The Movie Emperor (2023) |date=23 November 2024 |website=[[Sino-Cinema]] |last=Elley |first=Derek |author-link=Derek Elley |access-date=4 January 2026}}</ref><br>Hong Kong<ref name="filmcountry" /> | language = Mandarin<br>Cantonese | budget = [[¥]]261 million<ref name=":top">{{Cite web|url=http://36kr.com/p/1536501883851008|title=欢喜传媒：2.61亿投资电影《全民明星》，宁浩导演费2500万元|trans-title=Huanxi Media: 261 million yuan invested in the movie "Celebrity", Ning Hao's director fee is 25 million yuan |access-date=September 10, 2023|date=21 December 2021|work=36kr|language=zh}}</ref> | gross = ¥94.18 million }} '''''The Movie Emperor''''' ({{lang-zh|s=红毯先生|紅毯先生|p=Hóng tǎn xiānshēng|l=Mr. Red carpet}}) is a 2023 [[Satire (film and television)|satirical]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Ning Hao]] and starring [[Andy Lau]]. The film is a co-production between China and Hong Kong, and had its premiere at the [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival]] in Gala Presentations section on September 15, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/2023-toronto-film-festival-lineup-movies-list-1235446040/ |title= TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More |author= Anthony D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date= July 24, 2023|access-date= September 10, 2023}}</ref> It was also the closing film of the [[28th Busan International Film Festival]] where it was screened on October 13, 2023.<ref name="sd:lead">{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/busan-film-festival-unveils-2023-line-up-and-will-honour-chow-yun-fat/5185562.article |title=Busan film festival unveils 2023 line-up and will honour Chow Yun-fat|first= Michael |last= Rosser |date=September 5, 2023 |access-date= September 10, 2023 |website=[[ScreenDaily]]|language=en}}</ref>
==Synopsis== The film tells the story of a Hong Kong film star, Dany Lau Wai-chi, who collaborates with a mainland Chinese director, Lin Hao, to create an awards-baiting arthouse film, where Lau stars as a peasant farmer.
==Cast== * [[Andy Lau]] as Dany Lau Wai-chi (English name an anagram of Andy; Chinese name an amalgam of Andy Lau, [[Tony Leung Chiu-wai]] and [[Stephen Chow|Stephen Chow Sing-chi]]) * [[Ning Hao]] as Lin Hao * [[Rima Zeidan]] as Summer * [[Pal Sinn]] as Lau's manager * [[Kelly Lin]] as Lau's ex-wife * [[Miriam Yeung]] (cameo) * [[Tony Leung Ka-fai]] (cameo) * [[Wong Jing]] (cameo)
==Production==
In February 2022, the opening ceremony of the film was held in [[Shenzhen]]. Principal photography began on 23 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.breakinglatest.news/entertainment/ning-hao-and-andy-lau-continued-the-front-edge-movie-mr-red-carpet-started/ |title=Ning Hao and Andy Lau continued the "Front Edge" movie "Mr. Red Carpet" started|date=25 February 2022 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Guangzhou Daily |via=Breaking Latest News|language=en}}</ref> The filming locations also included [[Guangzhou]], [[Shanwei]], [[Haifeng County]] and [[Haikou City|Haikou]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://k.sina.cn/article_2188036480_826ac9800200134dr.html|title=刘德华现身海口被偶遇，一身黑色西装帅气依旧，亲民和粉丝互动|trans-title= Andy Lau appeared in Haikou and was met by chance. He was still handsome in a black suit and interacted with fans.|work=Sina|access-date=10 September 2023|date=20 April 2022|language=zh}}</ref> and filming was wrapped up on 21 April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/3lhuj_426v6.html|title=Andy Lau's movie "Mr. Red Carpet" was completed, the crew took a group photo, and Ning Hao obediently let C position|date=22 April 2022|access-date=10 September 2023|work=Lai times}}</ref>
==Release==
The film was premiered at [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival]] in Gala Presentations section on 15 September 2023 at [[Roy Thomson Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2023.tiffr.com/shows/the-movie-emperor |title= Official Selection, 2023 Toronto International Film Festival Screenings:The Movie Emperor |date=1 September 2023|access-date=16 September 2023 |website= Tiffr 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It was also selected in Gala Selection of the [[36th Tokyo International Film Festival]] and was screened on 25 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/tokyo-film-festival-lineup-2023-1235601720/ |title=Tokyo Film Festival Aims to Boost Global Relevance With Bumper 2023 Edition |first=Patrick |last=Brzeski |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=27 September 2023|access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref>
The film was initially scheduled for release in mainland China on November 17, 2023. However, on November 8, 2023, the film changed the release date to February 10, 2024, the first day of the Chinese New Year. Due to poor box office performance and low scheduling rates (representing the percentage of screenings in China) during the Chinese New Year, the film was withdrawn from its competitive slot on February 16, 2024, and rescheduled for later release on March 15, 2024. Ultimately, the film grossed only 94.18 million yuan in mainland China, becoming one of the year's biggest flops, and marking a rare misfire for both Andy Lau and Ning Hao.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-06 |title=宁浩、刘德华携手 《红毯先生》撤档重映仍遇冷 或亏超2亿元！ |url=https://wap.eastmoney.com/a/202404053035034188.html |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=上海证券报}}</ref>
== Reception ==
Kevin L. Lee reviewing for AwardsWatch at Toronto Film Festival, graded the film A− and praised the performance of lead actor writing, "[Andy] Lau not only continues to cement his place as a Hong Kong legend in cinema, but he strolls right in and delivers a comedic performance like no other."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://awardswatch.com/the-movie-emperor-review-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-red-carpet-toronto/ |title='The Movie Emperor' Review: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Red Carpet {{!}} Toronto |author= Kevin L. Lee |date=16 September 2023 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website= AwardsWatch |language=en}}</ref>
Lee Marshall of [[ScreenDaily]] reviewing in Busan Film Festival opined that the film "packed with references to Lau’s career and to Hong Kong and Chinese mainland films and celebrity culture, is a film that has been precision-engineered for local audiences." Concluding Lee wrote, "While there are more than a few China-specific in-jokes here, Hao’s knowing comedy makes a good case for the cross-border universality of the world it portrays." Lee cites example of “Yumeji's Theme” from 2000 Hong Kong film ''[[In the Mood for Love]]'', used as a repeated motif in the film to make the point.<ref name="rev:sd">{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-movie-emperor-busan/5186347.article |title='The Movie Emperor': Busan|first= Lee |last= Marshall |date=October 13, 2023 |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=[[ScreenDaily]]|language=en}}</ref>
Peter Debruge giving positive review for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote that the film is "one of the year’s savvier satires."<ref name="rev:variety">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-movie-emperor-review-andy-lau-1235759663/ |title= 'The Movie Emperor' Review: Andy Lau Plays Vain Version of Himself in Hong Kong Megastar Meta-Satire |author= Peter Debruge |work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date= October 22, 2023 |access-date= October 26, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
== Controversy == One of the film's trailers featured a scene suggesting the "seat-swapping" controversy between [[Eddie Peng]] and [[Li Bingbing]] during the 2018 Weibo Movie Night.<ref>{{Cite web |last=星島日報 |date=2023-10-29 |title=紅毯先生丨劉德華新戲變內娛八卦集中地 重演彭于晏換李冰冰頭排位風波 |url=https://std.stheadline.com/realtime/article/1960640/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82-%E5%A8%9B%E6%A8%82-%E7%B4%85%E6%AF%AF%E5%85%88%E7%94%9F%E4%B8%A8%E5%8A%89%E5%BE%B7%E8%8F%AF%E6%96%B0%E6%88%B2%E8%AE%8A%E5%85%A7%E5%A8%9B%E5%85%AB%E5%8D%A6%E9%9B%86%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%B0-%E9%87%8D%E6%BC%94%E5%BD%AD%E4%BA%8E%E6%99%8F%E6%8F%9B%E6%9D%8E%E5%86%B0%E5%86%B0%E9%A0%AD%E6%8E%92%E4%BD%8D%E9%A2%A8%E6%B3%A2 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=std.stheadline.com |language=zh-Hant-HK}}</ref> At the ceremony, Peng, who was supposed to be in the second row, allegedly took a first-row spot reserved for Li, infuriating the actress.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eddie Peng clears the air around 'seat snatching' controversy |url=https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/asian/eddie-peng-clears-air-around-seat-snatching-controversy-360836 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=8days |language=en}}</ref> However, the scene was cut from the theater version.
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * [https://tiff.net/events/the-movie-emperor ''The Movie Emperor''] at TIFF * {{Rotten tomatoes}} {{Andy Lau}} {{Ning Hao}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Movie Emperor, The}} [[Category:2023 films]] [[Category:Chinese drama films]] [[Category:Hong Kong drama films]] [[Category:2023 Hong Kong films]] [[Category:2023 Chinese films]] [[Category:Films produced by Andy Lau]] [[Category:Films directed by Ning Hao]] [[Category:Films shot in Guangzhou]]