Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming, once considered one of the leading men of his generation, is now facing what may be the most turbulent chapter of his career.
His latest film, Mostly Sunny, was set to release on June 28, but shockingly had to cancel its theatrical debut due to zero ticket sales and minimal public interest.
What makes the situation more painful is Huang’s personal investment in the role. To portray a mentally challenged middle-aged man, he gained 15kg, stepping away from his usual “dominant CEO” image. His performance even earned him Best Actor at the Shanghai International Film Festival (Golden Goblet Awards)—but audiences seem unmoved.
The failure of Mostly Sunny is the third consecutive flop for Huang. His 2024 drama The Silicon Waves aired on CCTV but failed to even hit the network’s minimum viewership benchmark, drawing criticism for poor script selection and unconvincing “youthful” roles. His previous film The Wig fared no better, raking in just 4.1 million CNY in nine days against a 100 million CNY (~13.9 million USD) production cost, with over 10,000 ticket refunds reported.
Critics and netizens alike have called out Huang’s acting as “overcooked” and his role choices as increasingly out of touch. Adding to the damage is his controversial love life, particularly his tumultuous breakup with Angelababy and current relationship with influencer Ye Ke, whose outspoken livestreams and manipulative behavior have fueled public backlash.
Huang’s recent emotional apology at the The Wig premiere, where he tearfully asked the public for understanding, did little to win back viewers. Even after deleting public declarations of love for Ye Ke and unfollowing her online, his popularity remains in freefall.
Previously, Ye Ke frequently hosted livestreams where she made numerous controversial remarks. She criticized other singers and made comments that came across as “calculating, manipulative, and insincere.” As a result, the public developed a negative perception of Ye Ke, and this dislike extended to Huang Xiaoming. Many felt that the actor was failing to keep his girlfriend in check.
Though he continues to pursue challenging roles and high-quality projects, the question remains: Has the audience already moved on from Huang Xiaoming? For now, it seems that the once-beloved actor is struggling to find his place in an industry that no longer sees him as a box office draw.