Chinese Box Office Could Usurp Hollywood as the Most Dominant Film Market

[haidian]

Chinese Box Office Could Usurp Hollywood as the Most Dominant Film Market
October 23, 2018 / Lorraine Schmucker

2018 could be the year that China overtakes Hollywood as the most important film market, an event that some may say has been a long time coming. When Chinese currency is converted to U.S. dollars with a conservative exchange rate, it becomes apparent that China’s box office revenue for the first quarter of 2018 hit $3.17 billion, while theaters in North America grossed $2.85 billion. The Chinese government and ComScore are predicting a 15-20 percent increase in film sales in China but a 2 percent decline for North America.

“The importance of China as a movie market cannot be overstated,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore, to Variety. Popular domestic titles such as Detective Chinatown 2, which was the third highest grossing film ever at the Chinese box office as of March 1, Operation Red Sea, and Monster Hunt, contribute to the success of the Chinese film market.

U.S. titles such as Black Panther and Ready Player One also rely on the Chinese market to bolster their overall profits. Black Panther, for example, grossed over $105,062,459 in China, the most of any international market it was sent to and 16 percent of its total foreign gross of $646,850,070.

However, this dependency may have to change, as Chinese-language films are beginning to outperform American imports at the Chinese box office. Hollywood film revenue in China is down by 24 percent this year, said box-office analyst Rance Pow, CEO of consultancy Artisan Gateway. In contrast, the North American box office is having a very successful year, with summer ticket sales up by 14 percent.

By this time last year, American imports had made $2.17 billion in China, but the gross revenue of American films in the market so far this year is down to $1.64 billion. On the other hand, revenue of Chinese films in China has increased 46.7 percent since 2017, going from $2.92 billion to $4.28 billion. The Hollywood Reporter credits the success of home-grown titles as the reason why China’s box office revenue has risen.

https://www.irinsider.org/music-cul...rp-hollywood-as-the-most-dominant-film-market

 

[Quibbler]

And still China cant make good movies for global audiences. Says much about wonders of protectionism.

 

[haidian]

And still China cant make good movies for global audiences. Says much about wonders of protectionism.

We don't speak English, that's where US strength lies in global entertainment, but at least in China, Chinese audience now perfer Chinese movies over US movies and we generate the biggest revenue in the world.

 

[Quibbler]

We don't speak English, that's where US strength lies in global entertainment, but at least in China, Chinese audience now perfer Chinese movies over US movies and we generate the biggest revenue in the world.

You allow barely 16 good Hollywood movies a year into China. And most of them are headline grabbing movies rather than good content movies. It obvious Chinese will chose local movies when they do not have access to good Hollywood movies in theaters.

Coming to your point of language barrier, a good movie is a good movie irrespective of the language most of the times. Some French and Italian movies like are my go to movies even when i am constantly looking at the subtitles.

Is language a problem definitely yes, however if you were making good movies (i am not referring to box office collections, but artistically good movies) even in local languages it doesnt take time to be recognized in other countries and cultures. However i see little imprint of chinese movies on the global theater culture.

You are big so your collections will be big. But in terms of quality and content there is a lot of catching up to do. A good analogy would be your economy. You might get bigger than USA in nominal GDP, but none of the estimated put you better than them in per capita terms( i.e. quality) ever.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

We don't speak English, that's where US strength lies in global entertainment,

Well you could simply dub it into English and problem solved. However US movies are a success because they are dubbed into multiple languages.

Do you speak...

Disney typically does 40+ languages. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/argo-django-unchained-inside-weird-427453

However even the language isn't enough to appeal to local audiences. Subtle changes in cultural settings are also made.

China simply hasn't made any movie that appeals to global audiences and so isn't going to go through the hassle of Internationalization.


Plus having mainly Chinese actors in some types of movies may have a lagging credibility issue. You are still seen as backwards and not inventors to most of the world. So having some futuristic Star Wars type movie with an all Chinese cast may look out of place.

we generate the biggest revenue in the world.

Not yet. We are $9.5B so far this year. You are still #2...which considering your population advantage and "so-called" 400 million middle class is quite baffling.

 

[haidian]

You allow barely 16 good Hollywood movies a year into China. And most of them are headline grabbing movies rather than good content movies. It obvious Chinese will chose local movies when they do not have access to good Hollywood movies in theaters.

Coming to your point of language barrier, a good movie is a good movie irrespective of the language most of the times. Some French and Italian movies like are my go to movies even when i am constantly looking at the subtitles.

Is language a problem definitely yes, however if you were making good movies (i am not referring to box office collections, but artistically good movies) even in local languages it doesnt take time to be recognized in other countries and cultures. However i see little imprint of chinese movies on the global theater culture.

You are big so your collections will be big. But in terms of quality and content there is a lot of catching up to do. A good analogy would be your economy. You might get bigger than USA in nominal GDP, but none of the estimated put you better than them in per capita terms( i.e. quality) ever.

How many Chinese movies are allowd to shown in Indian threaters every year?

 

[Quibbler]

How many Chinese movies are allowd to shown in Indian threaters every year?

There is no limit. You can show 1 million movies if you want. There is no barrier. Contact a distributor and kink out a deal. There is no law stopping you. There is no non-tariff of even tariff barrier. Distributors are solely after money with no fake patriotism. If they can make money in a deal they will run after you. That is whats happening with thos dumb superhero hollywood movies at this very moment.

 

[haidian]

There is no limit. You can show 1 million movies if you want. There is no barrier. Contact a distributor and kink out a deal. There is no law stopping you. There is no non-tariff of even tariff barrier. Distributors are solely after money with no fake patriotism. If they can make money in a deal they will run after you. That is whats happening with thos dumb superhero hollywood movies at this very moment.

That means no Chinese movies showing in Indian threaters maybe, so until Chinese movies get a fair share, China won't allow foreign movies to flood the market. Different countries have different rules.

 

[Quibbler]

That means no Chinese movies showing in Indian threaters maybe, so until Chinese movies get a fair share, China won't allow foreign movies to flood the market. Different countries have different rules.

By your logic other countries should block import of all your goods as China has unfair share in their market. "Different countries have different rules" but fairness is universal.

You really don't understand free market economics. Right?. The world ain't China where the Chinese govt can keep out competition. Its an open market, make good movies and you will have a market. Don't complain if you cant develop talent. You are just a big *** North Korea.

 

[haidian]

By your logic other countries should block import of all your goods as China has unfair share in their market. "Different countries have different rules" but fairness is universal.

You really don't understand free market economics. Right?. The world ain't China where the Chinese govt can keep out competition. Its an open market, make good movies and you will have a market. Don't complain if you cant develop talent. You are just a big *** North Korea.

Japan did it first and then South Korea, China is still a late comer, don't blame China for your abysmal cometitiveness in the world market, Without China , your products are still not wanted by anyone. Even North Koreans live a better life than average Indians based on global human development index, so you are in no position to laugh at anyone on this planet.

 

[Jlaw]

Well you could simply dub it into English and problem solved. However US movies are a success because they are dubbed into multiple languages.

Do you speak...

Disney typically does 40+ languages. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/argo-django-unchained-inside-weird-427453

However even the language isn't enough to appeal to local audiences. Subtle changes in cultural settings are also made.

China simply hasn't made any movie that appeals to global audiences and so isn't going to go through the hassle of Internationalization.


Plus having mainly Chinese actors in some types of movies may have a lagging credibility issue. You are still seen as backwards and not inventors to most of the world. So having some futuristic Star Wars type movie with an all Chinese cast may look out of place.




Not yet. We are $9.5B so far this year. You are still #2...which considering your population advantage and "so-called" 400 million middle class is quite baffling.

Dubbing movies makes the movies worse. In most cases the voices do not match the characters especially if actors have a unique voice.

 

[SHARMA BHOPALI]

How many Chinese movies are allowd to shown in Indian threaters every year?

Who will see Chinese ? When Hollywood movies are there?

Dubbing movies makes the movies worse. In most cases the voices do not match the characters especially if actors have a unique voice.

Even then people enjoy dubbed movies.

 

[Jlaw]

By your logic other countries should block import of all your goods

India and US should ban all Chinese goods. But we know Indian love Chinese products over local Indian products.

 

[haidian]

Who will see Chinese ? When Hollywood movies are there?

Chinese do and those movies make China the world biggest movie market in revenue surpassing North America, you should be happy that China still manages to squeeze in a couple of Indian movies on our busy showing schedule, so don't complain about the quota.

 

[Quibbler]

India and US should ban all Chinese goods. But we know Indian love Chinese products over local Indian products.

I like how you selected to quote the part that suited you. Congrats you scored a brownie point. I wonder what you accomplished with that completely arbitrary and non-related statement.

Japan did it first and then South Korea, China is still a late comer, don't blame China for your abysmal cometitiveness in the world market, Without China , your products are still not wanted by anyone. Even North Koreans live a better life than average Indians based on global human development index, so you are in no position to laugh at anyone on this planet.

Maybe it is CPC rule that you need to be rich to be right but not in other countries.