Taiwanese horror sequel Zong Xie 4: Kunti Lanna crossed NT$77 million in domestic box office after the Mid-Autumn break, prompting distributor Sky Films to stage cast reunion screenings that brought actors from all four installments onto the same stage.
Lead actors Hsu An-chih, Liu Kuo-shao and veterans from the first three films appeared in Taipei and Kaohsiung Q&A sessions, leaning into what fans online dubbed the “Zong Xie universe.” Producer Chou Chieh-chung even joined cast members in an impromptu dance after audiences requested a viral clip recreation in Kaohsiung.
Holiday competition
The Taiwan market also saw Hollywood holdovers dominate weekend charts—Resident Evil: Outbreak Night continued to lead Taipei receipts into October—but local producers said ensemble horror still pulls family audiences when marketed as a shared cultural ritual. Online creator Wang Shi-hsien’s Father Influencer crossed NT$85.7 million in the same window, showing appetite for Taiwanese-language family drama alongside genre fare.
Exhibitors extended late-night slots in Taichung and Tainan for Zong Xie 4 after social media clips of jump-scare reactions circulated. Sky Films pledged another week of fan events if daily admissions stay above 8,000 nationwide.
Franchise strategy
Directors positioned the fourth film as a Southeast Asian folklore chapter, shooting partly in Malaysia while keeping post-production in Taipei. Critics said the reunion tour risks feeling gimmicky but conceded it converts nostalgic viewers who discovered the series on streaming during the pandemic.
Taiwan-made horror is now a calendar franchise, not a one-off festival export. Producers are already pitching a spin-off podcast with behind-the-scenes exorcism consultants, testing whether audio can extend the brand between cinematic chapters.
What’s next on screens
October schedules will pit Zong Xie 4 against anime imports and Marvel reissues chasing school-break crowds. Cinema operators hope the dual success of Zong Xie and Father Influencer convinces lenders to back mid-budget Taiwanese genre films without relying solely on streaming buyouts.
Soundtrack and merchandising
Retail partners moved limited amulet keychains tied to the film’s folklore props, selling out at Taipei Main Station pop-ups before the second weekend. Composers said the score blends traditional percussion with synthesized drones designed for Dolby Atmos screens now installed in most first-tier multiplexes.