Marvel movies will finally release in China, after a 3-year ban of sorts
Marvel movies like Black Panther grossed $105 million and Ant-Man and the Wasp earned $121 million in China. Photo: dailyO
The animosity between China and the United States is not new, and neither is China banning the byproducts of the USA. From platforms like WhatsApp, YouTube to even Marvel movies, China has banned all.
But what comes as a surprise to many in China, after three years, the country has removed the ban on Marvel movies. The ban on the movies itself was a de facto ban (not official), but you were not able to access Marvel movies in China.
Two movies in the next two months: The ban will be lifted after the Chinese lunar year, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which was released worldwide in November, will be released in China on February 7.
Shortly after, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania will be available in the country from February 17, the same day the sequel debuts in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Why the ban?
Regulators at the China Film Administration (CFA), authorise or reject foreign film releases. The CFA, like the Indian Central Board of Film Certification, is a part of the government. However, Xi Jinping's government bans foreign movies as they please. Remember how Winnie the Pooh Character is banned in the country, because of its uncanny resemblance to Xi Jinping (according to memes, not me).
Now, there are no reasons given by the Chinese government as to why it banned Marvel movies, however, experts believe that there are some reasons apart from the obvious US and China rivalry:
- The presence of LGBTQ+ characters
- Symbols of US patriotism, like the Statue of Liberty;
- The hiring of the Eternals director Chloé Zhao, who has openly criticised her country, China.
- And Marvel was not always that sensitive towards Asians, let's be honest.
Loss of millions of dollars for Disney: Disney has always been a hit in China. Marvel movies like Black Panther grossed $105 million and Ant-Man and the Wasp earned $121 million in the country. The last Marvel movie released in China was Avengers End Game in 2019 (which earned a whopping 632 million dollars). Now, for three years, Disney had faced losses of millions when it was not running in the country, but finally, Marvel will return to the world's second-largest theatrical market.