Hollywood is one of the largest and most powerful industries in the world. Its status as a cultural pillar and creative force is arguably unmatched by any other form of entertainment in the world. Although Hollywood’s influence and presence have long been global, China has become one of the most influential external forces on the US film industry in recent years.
This rise in power has been driven largely by China’s economic growth, which has given it the resources to heavily invest in Hollywood, leading to increased control and censorship over the content of Hollywood productions. This article will look at how China has become the main external force in Hollywood and the implications it has for the film industry.
China’s Growing Financial Power
The Chinese economy has grown exponentially over the past few decades, and this growth has allowed them to invest heavily in the US film industry. In 2014, China overtook the US as the largest market for theatrical box-office revenue, and in 2018, it secured the highest share of the global market at 38%. This unprecedented surge in overall market share has been the result of Chinese tech giants and corporations pouring billions into Hollywood investments, acquisitions, and projects. For example, Chinese conglomerate Tencent now owns 15% of Lionsgate and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba recently acquired a minority stake in Paramount Pictures. This influx of Chinese capital has allowed China to secure a financial grip on Hollywood and its bright future.
China’s Increasing Creative Control
The foothold secured by Chinese funding has also enabled the country to exert creative control over the US film industry. Hollywood often changes scripts, ideas and storylines to meet the demands of its Chinese investors, as well as to adhere to the censorship laws imposed by the country. Thus, China’s increased financial power over the US film industry has allowed it to shape what gets greenlit and the content of Hollywood productions. For example, the 2017 film Red Sparrow was edited to remove a reference to China’s involvement in hacking US government computers. China also has a say in how Hollywood films are promoted and distributed in China itself, as the country has an import quota of 34 foreign films a year for domestic viewing.
Cultural Impact of China’s Influence
China’s creative influence over Hollywood has had both positive and negative implications for the film industry. On one hand, their investment has allowed Hollywood to make more diverse and inclusive productions and the increase in Chinese content has created more opportunities for actors and filmmakers of Chinese heritage, particularly in the United States. For example, some of Hollywood’s most successful movies of recent times have had prominent Chinese actors such as Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Donnie Yen (Star Wars Rogue One) in major roles.
However, having a foreign power’s influence over the US film industry has also had a detrimental effect in some cases. As noted before, some scripts must be altered to the meet the expectations of Chinese investors and avoid censorship from the government. Thus, Hollywood is bound to a certain extent by the artistic choices and censorship of another nation. The situation has worried some Hollywood creatives who fear China’s power will further erode freedom of expression in US film.
Ultimately, China’s rise has been essential for the continued growth of Hollywood and in some ways, has led to increased diversity in the industry. However, there is a fear among some Hollywood creatives that the country’s increased power and control could threaten the freedom of expression that the US film industry has enjoyed for so long. We will have to wait and see what impact the increased Chinese presence has on Hollywood in the long-term and whether it can remain the creative powerhouse it is today.