Cesium Fallout is a 2024 Hong Kong actiondisaster 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.
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
Andy Lau as Simon Fan (范偉立), former Financial Secretary of Hong Kong who is now a scientist and nuclear radiation expert
Bai Yu as Lai Kit-fung (黎杰峰), a station officer of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department and Simon's younger brother in-law who blames Simon for his sister's death.
Siuyea Lo provides the Cantonese voice dub for Bai Yu[4]
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]
Box office
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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]
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. [12] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]
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."[16]
