On April 24th Reuters reported that America's Securities and Exchange Commission had launched an investigation into whether American studios made illegal payments to Chinese officials.Ĭhina is difficult in other ways too. But Hollywood's dealings with China have been marred by allegations of corruption. Chinese audiences also love Mr Cameron's “Titanic”: the newly released 3D version took $105m in its first two weeks of release, double the takings in North America over the same period.

The film remains the highest-grossing of all time in China. This week, during a visit to the Beijing International Film Festival, James Cameron, a director, said he is looking for co-production opportunities in China for sequels to his film “Avatar”. Walt Disney recently announced its first partnership with DMG Entertainment in Beijing to produce “Iron Man 3”, starring Robert Downey junior. They may have better luck being distributed, too.Ī number of co-productions are under way. Co-productions are not classed as imports and so bypass the 34-a-year quota. So, to guarantee their films are released in China, American studios are trying another ploy: seeking a Chinese partner. In February the number increased to 34-though only if the extra 14 are shown in 3D or large format. Until recently only 20 foreign films could be screened at Chinese cinemas each year. Yet China will not grant Hollywood the access it desires. China's box-office revenues may overtake America's by 2020. The number of cinema screens in China has doubled in five years, to nearly 11,000-again, second only to America. Last year China's box-office take rose by more than 30%, to over $2 billion, according to the Motion Picture Association of America. Although most films are pirated on release and viewed online and on dodgy DVDs, the rising middle classes are increasingly willing to fork out for a night at the cinema. It has a booming home-grown film industry, making historical dramas and romantic comedies, but foreign blockbusters are the big money-earners. But the monkey still holds plenty of cards.Ĭhina is now the world's second-biggest film market after America. As Walt Disney and other foreign studios seek to enter China's film market, and a new Disneyland theme park rises in Shanghai, the mouse's position might look strong. FOR years China's home-grown hero, Monkey King, has had to compete on screen with the growing influence of an American mouse named Mickey.

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