Hollywood Has a New China Problem

The runaway success of Ne Zha 2, which has broken box office records in China and is now the 6th highest grossing IMAX film of all time worldwide, should be a wake-up call. At the heart of this success is Ne Zha himself, one of the most enduring figures in Chinese folklore. Traditionally depicted as a fierce, youthful warrior wielding a fire-tipped spear and flaming wheels, Ne Zha is known for defying fate and challenging authority.

For years, Hollywood has blamed its shrinking presence in China on tightening censorship, rising nationalism, and government protectionism. Studios argue that political forces—not creative shortcomings—are why Marvel movies no longer dominate, why Fast & Furious has lost steam, and why Hollywood's overall market share in China has plummeted. While it is true that Beijing's regulatory grip on film approvals, its quota system limiting foreign releases, and a preference for domestically produced content all shape the playing field, relying on this explanation alone is too convenient.



Hollywood's struggles in China are not just about politics. They reflect a deeper failure: a refusal to take Chinese audiences seriously. For years, Hollywood has blamed its shrinking presence in China on tightening censorship, rising nationalism, and government protectionism.

Studios argue that political forces—not creative shortcomings—are why Marvel movies no longer dominate, why Fast & Furious has lost steam, and why Hollywood's overall market share in China has plummeted. While it is true that Beijing's regulatory grip on film approvals, its quota system limiting foreign releases, and a preference for domestically produced content all shape the playing field, relying on this explanation alone is too convenient. Hollywood's struggles in China are not just about politics.

They reflect a deeper failure: a refusal to take Chinese audiences seriously. The runaway success of Ne Zha 2, which has broken box office records in China and is now the 6th highest..

. Lizzi C. Lee , Mengyuan Li , Lizzi C.

Lee , Mengyuan Li.