Introduction
After an almost four-year absence, Marvel movies are returning to Chinese theaters. Marvel has long been a hit in the country and its departure from the scene was felt throughout China’s film industry. However, with Avengers: Endgame back in cinemas, it looks like Marvel is once again making its presence felt. In this blog post, we will discuss why Marvel movies were so popular in China and what their return means for the Chinese cinema-going population. We will also examine the reception of Avengers: Endgame and how it compares to previous Marvel successes. Finally, we will look at what this development could mean for other upcoming Marvel releases in China.
The reason for the break
Over the past year, the Chinese film market has been booming. By the end of September, 2018, box office sales in China had already hit a record high of $8.87 billion USD. However, this growth was largely driven by domestic films; foreign films only accounted for a 34% market share. This is a marked decrease from previous years, when foreign films regularly held over 50% of the Chinese box office.
The slowdown can be attributed to a number of factors, including an increase in ticket prices (which has made going to the movies more expensive for many people), as well as stricter censorship laws (which have led to several big-budget Hollywood films being banned from release in China).
But perhaps the most significant reason for the decline in foreign film popularity is the rise of Chinese cinema. In recent years, homegrown productions like “Wolf Warrior 2” and “Operation Red Sea” have proven that Chinese audiences are hungry for action-packed, patriotic blockbusters – something that Hollywood hasn’t been able to provide in recent years.
How the movies will be received
As the first Marvel movie since Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home is expected to be a big hit in China. The movie was originally set to be released in China on June 28, 2019, but its release was pushed back to July 5, 2019, due to the death of Chinese actor and martial artist Jet Li.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is now the first Hollywood movie to be released in China since March 15, 2020, when all theaters in the country were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film is expected to perform well at the box office and could help boost morale among theatergoers in China.
The Avengers: Endgame box office results in China
Marvel movies are back in China after a nearly-year long break! The Avengers: Endgame opened in China on May 11 and grossed an estimated $330 million in its opening weekend. This is the second-highest opening weekend ever for a Marvel movie in China, behind only Avengers: Infinity War.
Endgame’s opening weekend haul is also the second-highest of all time for any movie in China, behind only Avatar’s $441 million debut. In just three days, Endgame has already surpassed the lifetime gross of Captain America: Civil War, which previously held the title of highest-grossing Marvel movie in China.
These results are a much-needed win for Disney, which has seen its share of struggles in China recently. Solo: A Star Wars Story and A Wrinkle in Time both flopped in the Middle Kingdom, while Avengers: Infinity War disappointed with a “mere” $191 million haul (although it should be noted that Infinity War was released during a major Chinese holiday period).
With Endgame’s massive success, it seems that Marvel’s winning streak in China is back on track. Up next for the studio is Spider-Man: Far From Home, which is set to open in China on July 5.
What this means for Marvel Studios
Marvel movies are returning to China after a nearly one-year break. This is good news for Marvel Studios, as the Chinese box office is a crucial part of the global market for big budget films.
China is the second largest market for films, behind only the United States. In recent years, it has become an increasingly important territory for Hollywood studios, as the country’s growing middle class has created a new audience for American films.
The Chinese box office is especially important for Marvel Studios, as its films tend to be very expensive to produce. The studio has had great success in China in the past, with several of its films setting box office records in the country.
The return of Marvel movies to China comes at a time when the country’s film industry is going through a period of change. The government has been cracking down on foreign films in an effort to promote homegrown productions. This has led to a decline in ticket sales for Hollywood studios in recent years.
However, there is still strong demand for big budget action movies in China, and Marvel Studios is well positioned to take advantage of this with its upcoming slate of films.
