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Poster for Once Upon A Lie
Emperor Motion Pictures

Once Upon A Lie

2025 90 min Chinese IIB
Wubly rating 6.0 IMDb rating 4.3

Online movie critic known for his sharp reviews, has now become an AI to dish the dirt on the latest cinematic disaster, "The Mermaid Falls for Me." A struggling writer who's close to his mom, stumbles into an online romance with a fan of his work. He thinks he's hit the jackpot in love and heads to an island for a mix of business and pleasure. But when his internet sweetheart is a no-show and his writing gig goes south, He's left high and dry. That's when he unexpectedly connects with Wen, his innkeeper, who's actually his online crush in disguise—a woman healing from a broken heart through her anonymous internet persona. Wen, once shy and lacking confidence, comes alive with the writer’s flirty chats. The writer inspired by Wen, invites her to co-write a new spin on the tired mermaid story. But as they finish, life throws a wrench in the works: His mom falls ill. In the emotional chaos, he finds out Wen was his mystery girl all along. He reacts badly, and Wen leaves, heartbroken.

Where to watch

Not streaming anywhere

Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.

Your rating

Your review

Cast

8 people

Stanley Liu Ming Yin Director · Emily Chan Writer

First release March 23, 2025 · Produced in Hong Kong SAR China, Taiwan · Languages Cantonese, Chinese

Production

E

Emperor Motion Pictures

Production

英

英皇娱乐集团

Production

I

Irene Production Limited

Production

Hong Kong SAR China · Taiwan

Produced in

如果人魚不劈腿

Working title

Languages

Original title

謊島美人魚

Original language

Chinese

Spoken on screen

Cantonese · Chinese

Release dates

Hong Kong SAR China · March 23, 2025

Limited theatrical

No release date listed for United States.

Hong Kong SAR China

April 17, 2025 · Theatrical

Taiwan

June 27, 2025 · Theatrical

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