Chinese market for American films
April 16th, 2014 at 7:47:59 AM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | We've discussed the 34 film limit for American films in China. They are hand selected by Chinese censors. Last year's list has 37 films, so presumably Jurassic Park (3D) and two others don't count towards the limit. "The Impossible" was actually made in Spain although it is in English. Pacific Rim actually made more money in China than in the USA.
There are some pretty terrible films on that list. Not to mention some films that were popular in the USA. While I understand that American comedy may not translate well, some of these films had to do better than "Bullet to the Head". The Heat We're the Millers American Hustle |
April 16th, 2014 at 12:37:25 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 | They are mostly films that celebrate violence. Surely this isn't lost on the censors. Are they trying to send a message to their people that we have a culture of upheaval? At least 20 of them are almost pure violence. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
April 16th, 2014 at 1:15:52 PM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | Like most censors they seem more concerned about avoiding sex than violence. With a 34 film limit the more thoughtful films would never be exhibited. I don't know if they can get them on TV. All Is Lost American Hustle August: Osage County Blue Jasmine Captain Phillips Cutie and the Boxer Dallas Buyers Club Dirty Wars Ernest & Celestine Her (2013) Inside Llewyn Davis Lone Survivor Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Nebraska Philomena Prisoners Saving Mr. Banks The Grandmaster The Great Beauty The Missing Picture The Square (2013) The Wolf of Wall Street Still, Iron Man 3, and Pacific Rim had the same production budget (about $200m). Iron Man 3 made $400m domestically and $800m international, while Pacific Rim made $100m domestic, and $300m international. That huge take from China prevented the film from being an even bigger loss. It's interesting that White House Down was also a failure in China. The assumption is that it failed in Northern America since "Olympus Has Fallen" was released only a few weeks earlier. But the Chinese didn't like "Olympus Has Fallen", either. |
April 16th, 2014 at 3:10:55 PM permalink | |
AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18136 |
You never know what will sell well overseas. One culture's dog food is another culture's gourmet. "Baywatch" was canceled in the USA before they realized how much it made overseas. Jerry Lewis is a hit in France. Cash the checks and don't fight the market. The President is a fink. |
July 7th, 2014 at 6:59:03 PM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
The fact that they are making a Pacific Rim 2, despite the dismal performance in US Box Office is one indicator that the US market is starting to take second place. Last year the top 12 films made 33% of the US box office. The top 14 US films were among the 34 films released to China. Iron Man 3 was carefully crafted to appeal to the chinese market. Well that tendency just went into hyperdrive. The fourth Transformers film just made $215 million in China. Those are staggering numbers. American film companies are going to be careful that they have 34 films every year that are geared at the Chinese audience. Last year their was not an R rated film ranked higher than #15. I think that trend will continue, since R rated films are usually don't do well in China, and very few of the 34 spots are opened up to an R rated film. 15 The Heat Fox R 16 We're the Millers WB R 17 American Hustle Sony R 19 The Conjuring WB R 20 Identity Thief Uni. R |
July 7th, 2014 at 7:35:28 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 | They seem to like violence and lots of CG. I doubt if romcom's do very well there. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
July 7th, 2014 at 9:16:18 PM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
Maybe they do have successful romcom's, but they are probably in Chinese. Most of the movies listed have cartoon violence. I think perhaps a film like Romeo Must Die, or Evil Dead, or Texas Chainsaw 3D, would have serious problems with their censors. The censors let in DJANGO UNCHAINED because they probably though it carried a social message about how the USA became an industrial power. |
July 7th, 2014 at 9:25:27 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 | I consider movies like Transformers and Ironman to be very violent, even it's machines fighting machines. I always FF thru those parts, very boring. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
July 14th, 2014 at 12:26:13 PM permalink | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | This phenomena where a film makes more money in China than in Northern America just began last years with "Pacific Rim" It seems to be accelerating. Now there are three movies so far this year, and two more where the Chinese boxoffice very nearly equals that of Northern America (USA and Canada). It seems that it's kind of a waste to use one of the 34 slots for "Monument Men". I understand that major studios have cut their plans to make comedies by over 70% as comedies won't sell in China.
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July 14th, 2014 at 12:36:42 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 | Monuments Men, why would Clooney even take on a movie like this. It got 32% on RT. It shows Clooney isn't half the movie expert he thinks he is. http://www.thewrap.com/george-clooneys-nazi-problem-monuments-men-hard-fun-hitler/ Clooney has directed 5 movies and only one, Good Night and Good Luck, made any money. MM might break even some day. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |