Although Marvel has a large international presence, it is not officially allowed in China. This is due to a combination of regulations on the content that can be shown to the Chinese populace, as well as the fact that China still guards its cultural products fiercely.
In 2018, China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television (SAPPRFT) implemented a new policy that restricted any shows or movies with “distorted values” or “Feudal and superstitious thinking.
” The purpose of the policy was to ensure that no foreign media was taking over a Chinese audience, including works from Marvel. Additionally, China has always had a very protective stance on their cultural products, preferring to promote their own domestic works over anything from Hollywood.
All this together means that there is currently no Marvel in China, though the situation could change in the future.
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Why did China ban Marvel?
China’s ban on Marvel, which was announced in February 2021, is rooted in geopolitics. The ban was reportedly triggered by China’s anger over the government’s perceived negative portrayal in Marvel’s recently released “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” movie.
The film follows a Chinese character and martial artist who embarks on a quest to confront his father and is supported by his friends and allies. While the movie is said to be relatively anodyne and wholesome in nature, it nonetheless appears to have angered China’s ruling Communist Party by evoking a number of sensitive topics such as terrorism and crime related to Chinese triads and Chinese espionage activities.
In addition, the film features a number of Chinese symbols and references, including the titular Ten Rings; a symbol of China’s ancient philosopher-warriors, who defended their lands and people. Additionally, the film stars a largely Chinese cast and crew which, according to Chinese authorities, implies a “westernizing” trend that they feel could damage the country’s culture and values.
These factors combined with an already tense geopolitical landscape between the US and China likely served as the impetus for the Marvel ban. Even though the movie was co-produced by Disney, Marvel and several Chinese companies, it nevertheless appears to have been too much for China’s leadership, who ultimately chose to use its economic power and censorship tactics to snub the movie and its affiliated companies.
Why was Shang Chi blocked in China?
Shang Chi was initially blocked in China due to its sensitive content. The movie follows the story of a biracial man who discovers he is the son of a villainous criminal organization leader, and in addition to this, the movie depicts Hong Kong as an oppressive police state.
It’s no surprise that such a film would be seen as a sensitive topic in China, and indeed, in an unprecedented move, Disney decided to pull the movie from Chinese theaters shortly after its release in early September.
The move has been met with mixed reactions among Chinese viewers. Some believe it was correct to remove the film as it could be seen as depicting China in a negative light, while others see it as censorship.
Furthermore, some see it as a sign that Disney is willing to kowtow to Chinese sensibilities in upcoming productions. In any case, producers of the movie remain positive, stating they believe ‘the movie still has a chance to ‘connect and inspire’ audiences in mainland China once an appropriate time has been found’.
Why are American movies banned in China?
Due to the prevalence of American movies in Chinese theaters, the Chinese government has taken measures to control the impact these films have on Chinese culture and values. The Communist Party of China believes that foreign films will provide an alternative set of values and beliefs to Chinese viewers, which could potentially weaken the current ideology of the Chinese government.
As a result, they have banned some American films from being released in their theaters. In addition, foreign films are subject to more government scrutiny than domestic films. China has stringent censorship guidelines that must be met in order for a movie to be approved for release in the country.
The Chinese government maintains strict control over the type of movies it allows to be shown in the country, and American films are considered to be particularly sensitive in terms of their potential to challenge the Communist Party of China’s views.
American movies are also viewed as a tool for political and ideological propaganda. The Chinese government has taken measures to protect its citizens from potentially dangerous content, including violence and certain depictions of sexuality.
They also take into account the unique religious and cultural traditions of China, which may be different from those depicted in some American movies. Furthermore, due to the numerous trade disputes between the United States and China, the Chinese government frequently takes measures to limit the influence of Hollywood studios in the country.
All of these factors come together to form the primary reason why American movies are banned in China.
Where are Marvel movies banned?
Marvel movies are currently banned in a few countries, mainly in the Middle East. In Lebanon, Marvel movies were banned after the film Deadpool 2, due to its depiction of a derogatory remark made about the country.
In Algeria, all Marvel movies have been banned since 2016 due to the nation’s strict laws on cinematic censorship. In April 2018, Qatar banned the Marvel film Black Panther, claiming it “portrays negative ethnic stereotypes which are contrary to the teachings of Islam and the strict laws of restriction of foreign movies” in the country.
Additionally, in 2019, Iran also banned Marvel movies, along with all other Western movies, due to their spiritual and religious concerns.
Will Thor 4 be in China?
At the moment, there has been no official announcement about where Thor 4, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be filmed. Based on the previous three Thor movies, a good guess is that there will be some filming in Australia, as the first two were filmed there.
Additionally, parts of the third movie were filmed in England, and parts were shot on a soundstage in Atlanta, Georgia.
That being said, there is speculation that some of Thor 4 will be filmed in China due to the Chinese box office success of Thor: Ragnarok. China has become increasingly important to the MCU in recent years, as the Avengers sequel, Age of Ultron, had much of its box office earnings come from China.
Ultimately, the location of Thor 4’s filming will depend on where the script takes the story, so we will have to wait and see what the details of the movie entail.
Is Netflix forbidden in China?
No, Netflix is not forbidden in China. Netflix services remain technically blocked in China and are not officially licensed for use, however there are ways to access Netflix from within the country. It is possible to access Netflix content via popular VPN services, allowing users to view titles not available in China.
Additionally, Netflix has partnerships with local companies, such as iQiyi, which have licensed content from Netflix and offer a range of titles for Chinese users. Netflix is also now available with Apple TV in more than 100 countries, including China.
Why is China mad at Disney?
China is reportedly mad at Disney due to the release of their live-action adaptation of Mulan. Reports say that the film was perceived as “detrimental to China’s national interests and image”, which includes ignoring the Uyghur muslim genocide and using Taiwan as the setting for the film.
In addition to the direct connection to social issues, the movie was seen as indirectly promoting independence for Taiwan, which China does not recognize. The movie also included content related to Tibetan independence and had the potential to reinforce an “anti-China narrative”.
Adding to the issues, several actors in the movie have openly expressed support for the Hong Kong democracy movement, angering China. Finally, there have been claims of the film leaning more towards American values, which may have added insult to injury.
All of these issues combined have reportedly made China angry with Disney.
Which country banned Marvel?
Films, or television shows. However, certain Marvel content has been censored or restricted in certain countries. For instance, in Iran, certain films, such as Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, were censored by being edited to remove any allusions to American government and companies.
In 2002, Malaysia banned films related to the X-Men franchise, claiming the films promoted liberalism, anarchism, and atheism. Marvel films like Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther have also been banned in China due to references to sensitive political issues, such as the Dalai Lama and Tiananmen Square.
In 2017, the Philippines’ Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) banned Marvel films from being shown on television, due to their violence and perceived promotion of a “vigilante” mindset.
