The much anticipated “Avatar” sequel will hit mainland Chinese theatres on December 16, 20th Century Studios announced on its official Weibo account on Wednesday.
The most recent instalment in the “Minions” franchise and Sony Pictures’ “Where the Crawdads Sing” are among the few foreign films to have gained access to the Chinese market recently.
Owing to stringent limits on the quantity of international films that can be shown, as well as the fact that many of them are barred due to content that Chinese censors deem objectionable, foreign films have long struggled to get release dates in mainland China.
Blockbusters from Hollywood have recently had an especially difficult time acquiring approval to screen in China. The six most recent Marvel films were not released in China, and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was also refused a distribution there earlier this year. Along with an increase in Chinese studios producing their own versions of the high-octane blockbusters American studios are known for, there has been increased scrutiny of Hollywood movies.
Chinese moviegoers have proven to be interested in watching more Chinese-centric stories on the big screen. Popular Chinese productions include the “Wolf Warrior” franchise and last year’s breakout success, “The Battle at Changjin Lake.”
However, tight COVID-19 curbs have affected the Chinese movie sector because Chinese ticket sales for the first time surpassed U.S. ticket sales in 2020. Across the nation, theatres are routinely asked to halt operations or set a limit on patronage.
More Chinese-centric storylines on the big screen have piqued the interest of Chinese viewers. The “Wolf Warrior” series and “The Battle at Changjin Lake,” last year’s breakout hit, are two well-known Chinese productions.
Tight COVID-19 limits have, nevertheless, had an impact on the Chinese film industry because, in 2020, Chinese ticket sales for the first time topped American ticket sales. Theaters all around the country are frequently asked to cease operations or place a cap on attendance.