Generally speaking, it takes one or two days after a film's release for major websites and media outlets to publish official ratings.
But among audiences, a movie's reputation begins spreading the moment they walk out of the theater.
By noon, discussion threads about the Spring Festival releases had already exploded across forums.
["Damn, 'Breaking Formation' is insane! Ying Rui's acting is amazing, the script is great—definitely the box office champion!"]
["I watched 'Fake Detective' this morning—I laughed the entire time. I think that's the real champion."]
["This year's Spring Festival lineup is way better than last year. 'Breaking Formation' kept me hooked the whole time. Not a masterpiece, but definitely a great film."]
["Just finished 'Breaking Formation', now waiting to watch 'Fake Detective'."]
["By the way, what's going on with 'Rurouni Kenshin'? It had 170 million in pre-sales and already passed 200 million today. Why are its fans so quiet?"]
["Maybe it's bad and those Su Yan fans are too embarrassed to say anything."]
["Don't say that… I thought the trailer looked pretty good. I just finished 'Fake Detective,' and I'm about to watch 'Rurouni Kenshin'—please don't be a trailer scam."]
["Stop hyping it. I just walked out of 'Rurouni Kenshin' and don't even feel like talking. Waiting for my second viewing."]
["Same. How do I even describe it… one word: shocking. Best action movie I've ever seen."]
["Damn it, my head is still full of Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu moves. So freaking good!"]
["The plot isn't super intense though."]
["It's already great. The story is actually solid, no filler, and the characters are well done—but the action is so far beyond the plot that it overshadows it."]
["Just finished it. Masterpiece! I give it 99 points—deducting one because Su Yan didn't bring Yukishiro Tomoe back to life!"]
["Exactly! That Udou Jin-e can already control people with killing intent—why not just add some resurrection technique?"]
["I'm a Shen Liqian fan, but honestly, in 'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie', Kamiya Kaoru can't compare to Tomoe. Kaoru is well-written—strong, independent, idealistic—but Tomoe is just on another level."]
["An 80-point character competing with a 120-point god-tier character. Kaoru is actually great—her opponent is just too strong."]
["Why were you Kenshin fans so quiet earlier, and now you're all coming out at once? So is the movie good or not?"]
["Of course it's good! But what's amazing isn't just the story—the movie's plot is slightly weaker than the drama version without Tomoe's arc. Still, the film is overall better because Su Yan's action scenes are incredible. Ignore the plot—just the action alone is worth ten times the ticket price!"]
["You guys are paid trolls from Dimensional Pictures, right? Who praises action instead of story? How good can action be? Probably just like the trailer."]
["Did I say the story was bad? I said it's slightly weaker than the drama. A 90-point story isn't bad—it's just not 100. But when a 90-point story has 1000-point action scenes, what should I praise?"]
["If you want to know why we're all praising the action, just buy a ticket and watch it yourself. Also, those 'cool' trailer scenes? The entire movie is like that."]
["Now I get why so many of Su Yan's dramas get copied—but 'Rurouni Kenshin' doesn't. It's impossible to imitate."]
["This is getting ridiculous. Is it really better than the late action star Bu Jinhua's films?"]
["Honestly? Yes. Way better. I haven't watched the other two yet, but I don't think they'll beat 'Rurouni Kenshin'. If you think we're paid trolls, just wait for the official ratings tomorrow."]
From noon onward, waves of trending topics about the nine Spring Festival films flooded the internet.
But among them—
Only 'Rurouni Kenshin' audiences were unanimously praising one thing:
the action.
And action was something words couldn't fully convey.
To outsiders, it only raised more questions.
What kind of movie could make viewers react like this?
Almost no one who had seen it was criticizing it.
Even those who said the story was weaker than the drama's Tomoe arc would still add—
The action was absolutely insane.
As time passed, midnight arrived.
The first-day box office numbers were released.
And just as predicted by Xia Nation's film analysts—
The results matched expectations.
'Breaking Formation': 328 million
'Rurouni Kenshin': 309 million
'Fake Detective': 250 million
Total daily box office: 1.132 billion.
These three films, with 63% of screenings, took 79% of the total revenue.
Moreover, all three received excellent audience reception—each appealing to different groups:
historical war, martial arts action, and comedic mind games.
Their first-wave audiences all gave strong praise.
But among them—
'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie' stood out the most.
With over a million ratings, it scored 9.6.
That number alone shocked the entire film industry.
The other two films also scored above 9—
'Breaking Formation' at 9.0,
'Fake Detective' at 9.1.
But 9.6—
That was on a completely different level.
After receiving the first-day data, theaters quickly adjusted screenings for day two.
The three films all gained increased screen share, cutting into the slots of weaker performers.
The new distribution became:
24%, 23%, and 21%.
Meanwhile, media outlets and critics began publishing reviews—
Some are genuine, others clearly influenced by money.
["'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie' releases—greatest action film in Xia Nation in 20 years!"]
["A true genius—25-year-old filmmaker Su Yan can fight, write, compose, and act. 'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie' is the best film this Spring Festival, no contest."]
["A boring, pretentious film. A 9.6 score only proves how low its fans' standards are!"]
["'Breaking Formation' lives up to expectations—wins opening-day box office!"]
["'Fake Detective' delivers incredible word-of-mouth—the only true comedy of the season!"]
["Watched all three films in one day—' Breaking Formation' and 'Fake Detective' are worth it. But 'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie'? If you don't watch it in theaters, you'll regret it."]
["Legendary action star Min Jialiang praises 'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie' as a milestone in Xia Nation action cinema—the best choreography and most realistic combat ever."]
These reports ignited excitement among moviegoers.
The Xia Nation had a huge number of cautious viewers—
A movie ticket wasn't expensive, but their time was.
Many preferred to wait for early reviews before deciding.
And the reality was—
All three highly anticipated films delivered.
But among them—
'Rurouni Kenshin: Movie' had the most explosive reception.
In just one day,
fans of martial arts and action films across the Xia Nation
had already elevated it to legendary status.