A poster of movie "Running Man" [File photo]

 

Feng appealed to the whole industry to realize this is pure commercial speculation and to refrain from making such films. He also said the authorities who gave green light to those films were doing a wrong thing, but he would love the whole industry to agree with him before taking it to authorities.

As public debate divided opinions and most movie critics have aligned to Feng, movie critics and fans are giving TV show film a sound verbal lashing and low ratings.

The producers of the "Running Man" movie shot back on Feb. 7, saying that the TV show film is actually a family movie production which attracts both young and old viewers and makes them happy.

Chen Hongwei, co-producer of the film, told CE.cn that wherever there is an audience, there are films. And audiences have the say and choice. Filmmakers should respect audiences' choices and not point the finger.

"This is an era of diversity,” he said. "We should allow diversity and do our best."

A sequel to "Dad, Where Are We Going?" (based on its Season 2) and the film "Emperor's Holidays" – which is yet another adaptation of the "Dad, Where Are We Going?" franchise (using the cast from Season 1) – will hit Chinese theaters during China's Spring Festival, which starts on Feb. 19, 2015, milking even more money from TV fans.

However, not all TV shows can be transformed into box office triumphs. "I Want You" (2013), a movie based on the very popular singing contest show "The Voice of China," made just 1.75 million yuan (US$279,600) in its three day cinema run. "No Zuo No Die" (2014), another documentary based on a TV reality singing show, "Super Boy," made only 4.9 million yuan (US$782,900).