KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese action martial arts film, Ip Man 3 topped local box office, taking in RM28 million in less than a month of its release.
To date, Ip Man 3 is the highest grossing Chinese film in Malaysia. Its lead actor, Donnie Yen was in KL today to attend the film's celebration party. Also present was the film's scriptwriter Edmond Wong.
The film had also surpassed the record previously held by Datuk Jackie Chan's CZ12 (RM20 million).
Speaking of Ip Man 3's success, Yen said it came as a pleasant surprise for him.
"We owe the success to all the audiences. Without them, we wouldn't have gotten such astounding result. I was genuinely surprised when the local distributor told me of this great news," he said, when met at the Noble House Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
When asked how he felt beating Chan's record, the 52-year-old said, "It doesn't matter. We're all filmmakers who are passionate about making films. As filmmakers, we strive to beat our own record."
So, will there be Ip Man 4 after this? "Well, that depends on the audience as well as the scriptwriter. If there is a good story, I don't see why not?," he said.
Based on the life of grandmaster Ip Man who popularised Wing Chun (a form of Chinese martial arts), the film is set in early 1950s Hong Kong, where locals gangsters take control of the streets while the police turned their blind eye on crimes. Picking up from the second film, the story also centred on the relationship between Ip Man and his wife. Filmed primarily in Shanghai, it stars Lynn Hung, Max Zhang Jin, Patrick Tam and Mike Tyson.
Ip Man 3 is currently playing in cinema.