Experts Say Hollywood Will No Longer Kowtow To China’s Censorship Laws
By Movieguide® Staff
In recent years, Hollywood studios had no problem spending millions of dollars to edit, amend and censor their movies so that they could release in a blossoming Chinese market.
The market for American-made movies in China exploded in 2020 during the pandemic. For the first time in cinematic history, China overtook the U.S. for the world’s top box office. However, the tides have turned.
Movieguide® previously reported that North America would soon take back its crown in 2022:
In 2020, China moved past the U.S. in ticket sales for the first time ever, due to closed theaters and movies getting pushed back. Last year, the country marked $7.3 billion in ticket sales, while the U.S. only made $4.5 billion.
After a successful 2022 at the box office, led by movies like TOP GUN: MAVERICK and SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, America is on pace to reclaim the top spot this year.
In the first half of the year, China made just $2.6 billion. Meanwhile, the U.S. raked in $3.7 billion at the box office.
This boost in ticket sales is due to theaters reopening as COVID-19 restrictions relax, as well as positive, inspirational movies like TOP GUN: MAVERICK.
Moreover, it appears that American filmmakers will no longer cater to the restrictions of the Chinese Communist Party.
In recent months, two top performers at the domestic box office—TOP GUN: MAVERICK and SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME—both refused to change content for the CCP and saw success without the benefit of China’s market.
But according to Chris Fenton, former president of DMG Entertainment and author of the book “Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion-Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, and American Business,” Hollywood’s view on China is shifting.
“Pleasing Beijing no longer guarantees big revenues in China,” Fenton told CNN Business. “Such risk and effort no longer guarantee results, and I expect this lack of certainty to prolong this era of pushback for quite some time.”
Robert Cain, the founder of Pacific Bridge Pictures, is ecstatic at Hollywood’s decision to no longer “kowtow” to the Chinese government.
“You would never be able to find a single studio executive who would utter a peep that could be perceived as critical of anything about China … Now we’re in a different situation, where I think the studios, because they see China as less of a golden goose, they’re feeling more emboldened to go their own way and push back.”
“There’s still some opportunity there,” Cain added. “But it’s just not the same thing as it was.”
Read More: China’s Outrageous Double Standard
Read More: TOP GUN: MAVERICK Reverses Decision To Hide Taiwanese Flag on Tom Cruise’s Jacket
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.
