Beijing and Hollywood are decoupling as Chinese audiences favor domestic films | Wilnesh News

Hollywood blockbusters have dominated the international box office for decades, but in recent years they have lost their luster in China, the largest film market outside the United States.

The Walt Disney Company’s Latest Movie “Deadpool and Wolverine” Sweeping the world Since its release on July 22, it has become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. But it failed to replicate that success with Chinese moviegoers.

The Marvel superhero sequel grossed $57 million at the box office. first 20 days In China, locally produced comedy “Succession” grossed six times as much as in the same period, According to data from Maoyan.com.

Released on July 16, “Successor” continues to be a hit thrive at the Chinese Theatre. As of Monday, there have been Total revenue exceeded $439 million consolidate itself as China 3rd most viewed Best movie of the year. “Deadpool and Wolverine” ranked 15th.

Popular Hollywood franchises released in China, especially those from Marvel, will almost certainly rank higher at the box office by 2020. third most popular 2019 movies.

However, things have changed dramatically since then. “Godzilla × Kong: A New Empire” is the only Hollywood movie to crack the top 10 highest-grossing movies in China this year, ranking eighth.

Last year, not a single Hollywood movie made the top 10 — the first time since at least 2011, according to Maoyan.

Film experts say that while signs of Hollywood’s diminishing influence on China’s box office were evident before 2020, the global pandemic has solidified the trend. For about three years, China’s theaters have closed, film production has dwindled, and moviegoers have turned to streaming entertainment.

Stanley Rosen, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California, said that when Hollywood films return to Chinese screens, they encounter a more closed but developed domestic market.

“China has learned everything they can from Hollywood. Now they make their own big-budget blockbusters with great special effects, even good animated movies… They don’t need Hollywood anymore,” said Luo, who specializes in Chinese politics and society. Sen said.

At the same time, Chinese films like “The Succession” have a huge home field advantage.

“Chinese audiences, mainly young people, want stories that resonate…movies that are relevant in some way to what’s going on in China,” Rosen said.

Priscilla Yip, dean of the Faculty of Arts at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, said “Succession” fits that description, as the film touches on themes of parenting, education and upward mobility and is tailor-made for the domestic market.

Meanwhile, past attempts by U.S. studios to appeal directly to Chinese audiences have not always worked.

In 2020, Disney has high hopes for the live-action remake of the movie “Mulan” set in China, hoping to achieve good results in the market. However, this movie Failed, many Chinese moviegoers reportedly mocked it Historical Mistakes and Western Stereotypes of China.

In addition to films that are culturally relevant and relevant to the Chinese market, nationalistic and patriotic films are also growing in popularity.

China’s top-grossing film of all time is 2021’s “The Battle of Changjin Lake,” which depicts a battle between the Chinese People’s Volunteers allied with North Korea and the U.S. military during the Korean War. Next up is the 2017 film “Wolf Warrior 2,” which tells the story of a Chinese patriotic action hero fighting corrupt forces overseas.

This patriotic spirit coincides with the rise in tensions between China and the United States and The world’s two largest economies are “decoupled.”

The Communist Party of China adopts positive effect Develops and oversees the local film market and decides how many foreign films to show in the country’s theaters.

In 2012, then Vice President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden sign agreement Increase Hollywood’s access to China. This ultimately resulted in 34 places Allow Chinese state-owned enterprises to distribute American films on a revenue-sharing model. Approved films must also pass China’s strict censorship policies.

After Xi Jinping took office as President of the country, he asked the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to take charge of supervision Movie.

according to local media reportsChina Film Company participated in the production of “The Succession”. The company is Initiated by China Film Group Corporation – Ties with Beijing propaganda department and other entities.

Professor Ye from Lingnan University said that “The Successor” is a good movie with a good script, It still benefits greatly from state allocations, promotions and “blessings”.

She noted that the film may have difficulty outside of China, even in Chinese-speaking areas such as Hong Kong or Singapore.

With China no longer as lucrative for Western films as it once was, Hollywood has changed its calculations, Rosen said, adding that blockbusters can’t reliably factor the market into their budgets.

However, this may be a welcome change for many fans in the United States and other international markets.

Over the years, films have received negative attention for pandering to or altering films to appease Chinese audiences and win approval from authorities.

For example, Disney was criticized for filming “Mulan” in China’s Xinjiang region and thanking domestic government entities at the end of the film. U.S. insists Muslim minority Facing human rights violations and atrocities in Xinjiang.

“Movies don’t have Chinese elements like they used to, because even if you get approval, you can’t rely on the market,” Rosen said, adding that other international markets have become more important.

“You make a movie for the international market, and if it goes to China and makes some money, that’s great. But don’t count on it.”