Hollywood Director 1992

Many media outlets dug up his answers from the Oscars ceremony.

What ‘only achieving freedom in clothing and food doesn’t count as true wealth’ sounded very strange now.

The editor of *The Sun* jokingly teased Link, saying that with a net worth of four or five hundred million dollars, he actually said it didn't count as true wealth. How much net worth would be considered wealthy?

*USA Today* claimed that Link is one of the highest-paid directors in Hollywood, second only to veteran directors Spielberg and George Lucas. Other directors could film for decades and still not earn as much as Link did in just one year.

*Vanity Fair* magazine also joined the fray, publishing Link's photo on the cover with the title ‘Hollywood Fairy Tale — Cinderella Becomes Prince,’ telling the story of Link's journey from rags to riches, calling Link ‘Mr. Millionaire.’

Because Link's rise to fame was too rapid, and he was too young, only 21 years old, his net worth ranked in the top 400 in the United States.

It was too outstanding.

After the *Forbes* list was announced, Link received phone calls from acquaintances every day. Some congratulated him on making the Forbes list, some jokingly called him ‘Millionaire,’ and acquaintances in the media industry called him, hoping to have time for an exclusive interview.

His phone almost turned into a hotline.

However, before the ‘Forbes storm’ passed, *The Hollywood Reporter* dropped a bombshell.

The 1992 annual box office rankings are out!

The reason *The Hollywood Reporter* publishes this list in March or April, rather than at the beginning of the year, is because some movies are released at the end of the year, such as last year's blockbusters like *Aladdin*, *Home Alone 2*, and *Far and Away*, which were all released in December.

To calculate the box office of these movies, it is necessary to wait until the end of their theatrical run.

In this issue of the annual box office rankings, *Paranormal Activity* topped the North American box office chart with $318 million and topped the global box office chart with $645 million.

Second place, *Aladdin*, North American box office $210 million, global box office $504 million, produced by Disney.

Third place, *Home Alone 2*, North American box office $173 million, global box office $358 million, produced by Twentieth Century Fox.

Fourth place, *Batman Returns*, North American box office $162 million, global box office $266 million, Warner Bros.

Boom!

This data shocked countless people and made their scalps tingle.

The reason for the shock was because the data for *Paranormal Activity* was too exaggerated.

In the 1970s, a total of 17 movies in the North American market broke $100 million at the box office.

The highest-grossing was *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope*, released in 1977, with a North American box office of $307 million and a global box office of $503 million, directed by George Lucas.

Second place was the thriller *Jaws*, released in 1975, with a North American box office of $260 million and a global box office of $470 million, directed by Spielberg.

In the 1980s, 45 movies broke $100 million at the North American box office.

The highest-grossing was *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*, directed by Spielberg, released in 1982, with a North American box office of $359 million and a global box office of $792 million.

Second place was *Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi*, with a North American box office of $250 million and a global box office of $470 million.

In the 1990s, there are currently 22 movies that have broken $100 million at the North American box office. First place, *Paranormal Activity*, North American box office $315 million, global box office $645 million, directed by Link.

Second place, *Terminator 2: Judgment Day*, North American box office $204 million, global box office $504 million, directed by James Cameron.

Comparing the box office of movies from the past three decades, the top-ranked movies are all commercial blockbusters, big productions, and big directors.

And this movie, *Paranormal Activity*, was directed by a new director with a production cost of only $20,000.

This small-fry movie not only surpassed blockbusters like *Aladdin* and *Home Alone 2* in the North American film market this year, but also surpassed classic blockbusters like *Star Wars 4/6*, *Jaws*, and *Terminator*, becoming the movie with the second-highest box office performance in the past three decades, second only to *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*.

It's unbelievable.

What's even more unacceptable is that the quality and influence of this movie are much worse than the movies ranked behind it. It is completely a movie that relied on marketing hype to become a big hit.

Many colleagues, after seeing this data, couldn't wait to grab Link by the collar and ask him, what virtues and abilities does his movie have to dare to be ranked in front of so many excellent movies, and isn't he afraid of being scolded to death.

After Link saw the data listed by *The Hollywood Reporter*, he also felt that the box office performance of *Paranormal Activity* was a bit exaggerated. Fortunately, it didn't exceed *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*, otherwise, *Paranormal Activity* would have even greater pressure.

*The Hollywood Reporter* also announced the total box office performance of the North American film market last year when it announced the annual box office list.

In 1992, a total of 247 movies were released in North America, 12 movies had a North American box office of over $100 million, 36 movies had a North American box office of over $50 million, and 105 movies had a North American box office of over $10 million.

The cumulative total box office was $4.51 billion.

An increase of 4.2% compared to last year.

As the distributor of *Paranormal Activity*, Guess Film's movies released last year grossed $340 million, accounting for 7% of the total North American box office.

This achievement directly allowed Guess Film to surpass independent film companies such as New Line Cinema, Miramax Films, Castle Rock Entertainment, and Carolco Pictures, becoming the eighth-largest film company in Hollywood, second only to the seven major film giants.

This is another scalp-tingling piece of data.

*The Hollywood Reporter* commented below that 1992 was the most awkward year for the North American film market.

A movie with a production cost of only $20,000 strongly suppressed numerous commercial blockbusters, classic animated movies, and classic dramas, taking the annual box office champion, making movies like *Aladdin*, *Batman Returns*, *Unforgiven*, and *Bram Stoker's Dracula* rank below *Paranormal Activity*.

All filmmakers and film companies should reflect on why this happened? What went wrong, why did this movie become the annual box office champion, and what is there to learn from the success of *Paranormal Activity*.

Similarly, 1992 is also the most magical year in the history of world cinema.

An independent film with a cost of $20,000 topped the annual box office chart, grossing $640 million worldwide, with a box office return ratio of 32,000 times. This achievement is unprecedented and can be called a miracle.

*The Hollywood Reporter* named Link ‘Director of the Year,’ ‘Most Thrilling Director of the Year,’ and ‘Most Talked-About Director.’

Without a single mistake!

“Congratulations, millionaire director, great writer.”

“Link, you say we are all human, how can you be so amazing? The news says you have been favored by the goddess of luck, can you pray to the goddess for me and ask her to favor me too?”

In the office, Link received a call from Quentin.

“Okay, but can you not grit your teeth when you speak? It sounds like you are scolding me.”

Link leaned against the sofa and laughed.

“Hmph, I really want to scold you. Last year we lived in an apartment building, filmed movies together, and went to Park City to attend the Sundance Film Festival together. The movies were also released simultaneously. As a result, just one year has passed, and I haven't even started filming my second movie, and you have become a millionaire, the director of the annual box office champion.

This is too bastardly. Everyone started on the same starting line. We haven't even moved, and you have run to the finish line. Is this fair?”

Quentin seemed really jealous.

Through the phone line, Link could also smell the strong lemon scent.

“How about I treat you to a drink?”

“Just drinking is not enough. You also have to take me to see a strip show, three times, to make you spend more money, so that I can feel balanced.”

“You have red-eye disease. I suggest you see a psychologist.”

“No need, I just need to make a movie with a higher box office than *Paranormal Activity*, and I will feel balanced.”

Quentin asked him if he had time in the afternoon to go to the Carvel Bar for a drink. Steven Soderbergh, Robert Rodriguez, Tim Roth, and others were there, as well as a few newcomers. There were a few beautiful women among the newcomers who could be introduced to him.

Link had two interviews in the afternoon and didn't have time to go. He scheduled to go to the bar in the evening, and he would treat.

Quentin's call just ended, and he received a call from Steven Soderbergh.

Steven was more serious than Quentin. First, he congratulated him on becoming the director of the annual box office champion, and then he talked about his new movie *Killing Zoe*.

This script had been revised by Steven several times, but he still felt unsatisfied and was still continuing to revise it.

Link told him not to be too anxious and to take his time. He could film it whenever he wanted, and the company could provide him with all the support he needed.

Steven was very touched and said he would treat him to a drink.

After chatting with Steven, he received calls from Sam Haskell, WMA agency president Jerry Katzman, UTA agency president Marty Bauer, Jerome Preston, William Morris, Tim Robbins, and others, congratulating him.

Last time he made the Forbes list, they called to congratulate him, and only two days later, they called to congratulate him again.

Link has indeed had a series of happy events recently.