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Movies China

China Lifts Ban On Marvel Movies (variety.com) 49

Posted by BeauHD from the change-of-heart dept.
China has lifted its unofficial ban on Marvel titles, bestowing release dates for two major superhero tentpoles, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania." Variety reports: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," which was released everywhere else in the world last November, will open in China on Feb. 7. Shortly after, "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" will be released on Feb. 17, the same day the sequel touches down in the U.S. and the U.K. The dates were released via Marvel's Chinese social media accounts.

Those movies will be the first Marvel adventures to play in China since 2019's "Avengers: Endgame" (which made a staggering $632 million in the territory) and "Spider-Man: Far From Home" (which brought in $198 million in the territory). In the past, Marvel movies have been extremely popular in China, with "Black Panther" grossing $105 million and "Ant-Man and the Wasp" earning $121 million in the country.

It's not clear why recent titles from Disney and other major studios have been denied release in China. But it is most likely sabre rattling directed towards the U.S. during a period of increased tensions, especially with jingoistic political events like the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party and the 20th National Congress happening in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
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China Lifts Ban On Marvel Movies More

China Lifts Ban On Marvel Movies

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  • Still exporting trash to China (Score:3, Funny)

    by Arnonyrnous Covvard ( 7286638 ) on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @07:05AM (#63219170)
    I thought China had decided that recycling imported plastic trash isn't worth it, even if the shipping is basically free because the containers have to get back to China somehow?

    • You may not like it, but after the China release it will have scored over $1bn at the box office meaning the movie will have been a roaring success enjoyed by many.

      Personally I was neither here nor there about it. It was a mess but entertaining enough. Certainly not worthy of the title "trash". I'm saving that one for Dungeons and Dragons 4 - A New Flop.

      • It's the other way around: Formulaic superhero nonsense may objectively be trash, but a lot of people like trash.
        • It's interesting how much geeksnobbery the MCU generates. If it were about blue-skinned Andorians vs green-skinned Vulcans you'd be all over it, but blue-skinned Kree vs green-skinned Skrulls, forget it.

        • The MCU is entirely honest about what they're selling.

          It's zero plot CGI pew pew pew extravaganza.

          If you like that, go for it. If not, don't. But not every movie has to be Schindler's List and not everyone has to like the same movies.

          I happen to really like Schindler's List. I -also- happen to enjoy some pew pew pew CGI, too. And there's plenty of romcom stuff my wife likes that I don't. It's all ok. No one is wrong. It's just entertainment.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by edwdig ( 47888 )

            The MCU is entirely honest about what they're selling.

            It's zero plot CGI pew pew pew extravaganza.

            Well that's certainly one way to tell us you've never actually watched an MCU movie.

            The biggest driver of the MCU's success has been their ability to tell long term stories across multiple movies. Endgame was such a massive hit because it was the culmination of a story built up over about 20 movies.

            Pretty much everyone else that tries to do multi-movie stories struggles to make a trilogy. Look at Star Wars. They try to tell stories in trilogies, and the results got worse each time they tried. Look at the DC

        • Discounting things other people like as trash just makes you an elitist arsehole. Nothing more, nothing less.

        • Martin Scorcese is that you hiding behind an AC shield?
      • I wonder how "Captain America" will translate for the China market.
    • It will help with trade deficits. But Western movies will not have as much appeal in China. Still sheer size even a smaller percent provides good turnover. The little bits avoiding sensitive subjects still need some ironing. No Taiwan, Pooh etc easy enough to avoid. The propaganda machine will spin it, see we allow trade , but quietly they discourage consumption of this content. Your social score at risk. Plus the marvel flicks are not that good anyway.
  • What a concept! Next: proxy war!

  • Disney once again allowed Chinese censors on the cutting room floor and will be working with writers to insert Chinese propaganda hoping the rest of the world forgot about last time they did this and wonâ(TM)t notice.

    • That's called capitalism. Corporations have a charter to make money. They aren't here to promote Western values of freedom, free speech, and individuality. If the markets in the Middle-East were bigger, we'd see Saudi Arabia dictating Disney's major films as well.

  • Marvel Movies (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Lucifer2843 ( 10281796 )
    Is it really that big loss for China? I mean these superhero movies seem to come out every month. When Spider-man was released, it was kinda novel and special. Now, it's like watching the same contrived storyline with different superheros, with only a few exceptions.
    • There's what, 25 of them by now? And half a dozen limited series? The fact that there's any entertainment value left at this point (and there is) is testament to what a unique phenomenon this is. Most movies can support 1 or 2 sequels at most. Really, it's more like a slow-roll TV show when each episode has a big screen budget.

      • Marvel has over 80 years of storylines... and the characters to go with them... to tap. And as big as The Avengers were, a lot of people have forgotten that they're Marvel's B-team. They sold off the movie rights to their more popular characters to avoid going broke back in the '90s. They still have to share Spider-Man with Sony. But their two biggest franchises are still untouched, save their introduction in the last Dr Strange movie. They could easily pull another 20-25 movies EACH, for the X-Men and

    • Is it really that big loss for China?

      Yes. The box office numbers alone show that Marvel movies are very VERY popular in China. And it would be quite elitist to say "Hey you over there, that thing you like, just don't do that, it's no loss on you!"

      Now, it's like watching the same contrived storyline with different superheros, with only a few exceptions.

      Well yeah. It's like watching an episode of Friends. You know exactly what you're getting. The formula is the formula because people pay money showing they want that formula. Is it for everyone? No, go watch something else. In other news, some people in the world think golf isn't a sport and detest th

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by dohzer ( 867770 )

        Well yeah. It's like watching an episode of Friends. You know exactly what you're getting.

        Good looking neighbours saying unfunny things?

  • Enjoy watching Marvel instead of playing World of Warcaft... Too soon?

  • Can Winnie the Pooh be far behind?

  • Its like the media can't help themselves, have to spin a narrative.
    1) China limits the total number of imported films per year to 34 and it was 20 only recently (so an improvement) https://factsanddetails.com/ch... [factsanddetails.com]
    2) Given 1, certain movies have to be chosen and Marvel did not make the grade. Many people agree: https://www.newsweek.com/9-fil... [newsweek.com]
    3) Covid. For the last three years authorities would want to keep people from the theaters any way possible. This was in the article but not the summary:

    Very few

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by znrt ( 2424692 )

      Its like the media can't help themselves, have to spin a narrative.

      how did you think media makes money? with honest, in-depth, independent and objective analysis and reporting of reality that only a small minority would actually bother to digest?

  • Those poor Chinese viewers (Score:3)

    by nospam007 ( 722110 ) * on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @12:56PM (#63219958)

    Being forced to watch real movies all this time. :-)

    • Well yes. "You there! That thing you like isn't real because I said so. Watch this other thing instead because my opinion is worth more than your own!"

  • We let up, so you can too...see how agreeable we are? Poor Huawei, see what you did to them? Come now, Mr. Sam, surely we can come to terms.

  • " In the past, Marvel movies have been extremely popular in China, with "Black Panther" grossing $105 million and "Ant-Man and the Wasp" earning $121 million in the country." China is 4 times the U.S. If a movie in the states grossed (not net) 25 million it would be considered a loss and written off by the studios. "not sure why movies werent released to China" BS, we know exactly why so dont give us that soft peddling non-political understanding. If China is so afraid to let its citizens watch Marvel fo

  • I learned a new word today. Thanks /.!

  • The story of Mulan had been told in China for almost 1,500 years before Disney picked it up and made it into a movie.
      https://twitter.com/Fact/statu... [twitter.com]

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