How China’s Prolific Box Office Could Eliminate the Communist Villain
By Movieguide® Contributor
According to a recent article published by The Wall Street Journal, China’s global influence and strict censorship laws could change the way American studios make movies.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, China posted massive box office profits over the past two years. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to crackdown on both foreign and domestic media content, especially movies that portray China as the villain.
The CCP’s tight grip on what homeland theaters present is not new to the pandemic age.
One example is 2012’s RED DAWN—a remake of the 1984 movie of the same name—where China invades the US. The CCP did not hesitate to bad-mouth it in the press.
“‘Tempers here will probably explode like kernels of movie house popcorn’ when the movie comes out, China Daily wrote in an April 2010 editorial, calling it a ‘ticking time bomb,'” WSJ reported.
However, China’s global presence and guaranteed profits make American studios like MGM—the studio behind RED DAWN—more willing to bend their knee to align with the CCP guidelines.
MGM changed the villains to North Korea in RED DAWN to tap into the market.
Many critics slammed MGM for the switch-up, but the movie made more headlines in China.
“State-run publications bragged about MGM’s panicked edits,” WSJ reported. “One state-run outlet reminded readers that the edits came ‘without a single word from Chinese authorities.’ The reminder it gave Hollywood would prove more consequential.”
Since RED DAWN, no other movie produced by a Hollywood studio and shown in China has cast China as the explicit villain.
Movieguide®’s review of RED DAWN reads:
RED DAWN is a rousing, exciting war movie about Americans fighting for American liberty. Led by the talented Chris Hemsworth, the acting helps sell the drama. In fact, it nearly carries the action-packed plot and almost always engages the viewer. RED DAWN is Pro-American, patriotic and anti-communist. It extols fighting for liberty. In one scene, it even mocks leftist attacks on American capitalism. That said, the movie could have used some strong religious elements. Also, RED DAWN has plenty of foul language, so caution is advised.
Read More: SHANG-CHI Under Fire In China After Apparent Reference to Tiananmen Square Reference
Meanwhile, Chinese theaters are required to screen multiple propaganda movies each week that celebrate the immoral, anti-biblical and anti-Christian worldview of communism.
If Hollywood kowtows to China’s pressure and allows communism to become the hero–and not the villain–they are in direct violation of God’s Word.
“At the very root of socialism and communism is a negation of God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, particularly the First Commandment, since the state is being elevated to a position higher than God and the Eighth Commandment, because to outlaw theft one must assume God established private property,” Dr. Ted Baehr writes in his book, The Media-Wise Family. “You cannot steal something unless someone else owns it. The Tenth, is also negated because to envy or covet something requires that it belong to someone else. A movie that lifts up the state as savior and attacks the individual and their God-given rights is, in fact, promoting a very Anti-Christian worldview.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
