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[Blablurn]

Great write up about the current situation of the relationship between Hollywood and China

A five-year investment frenzy that saw billions of dollars flow between China and Los Angeles has hit a sudden rough patch, with the derailment of three major cross-border tie-ups over the last month.

Two of those are seeing Chinese investors get cold feet over billion-dollar Hollywood-production tie-ups.

Analysts point out that a number of factors are at play in this latest chapter of a Hollywood-China love story that is by no means on the brink of collapse. Two of the dying deals appear to be victims of recent foreign currency controls by Beijing, aimed at slowing a flood of outbound investment to support the Chinese yuan at home and also slow down a buying wave that some have called irrational.

Also sending shivers through the relationship is an unpredictable Chinese box office, which posted years of strong double-digit growth before suddenly cooling sharply last year amid allegations of manipulation.

A cooling Chinese box office, and the recent disappointing performance of the cross-border big-budget film ”The Great Wall," starring Matt Damon may have also been factors.

”The Great Wall," the biggest-ever Hollywood-China co-production, starring Matt Damon and backed by Wanda's Legendary Entertainment, has been a major disappointment. The sci-fi historical film, which cost $150 million to make, has earned just $330 million worldwide since its release in December, far less than the $450 million analysts say it needs to break even.

”From a long-term perspective, the China-U.S. cooperation in movies is standing on a solid foundation," said EntGroup's Hou. ”The short-term difficulties won't affect cross-border cooperation between companies in both countries. The number of co-productions should keep rising."

More at the source: http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-03-27/101070923.html

Less investments coming from China since the govenmernt decided to stop the money blowout.

Cooperations seem in trouble with partnerships between big studios not going through.

The Great Wall, a Chinese-American co-production, bombed big time. Is is the end of the love affair?

An unpredictable Chinese box office market makes it also hard for American studios.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

So Cameron has to rescue not just 3D, but the Chinese box office for Hollywood films.

 

[Black Republican]

I just want more "romeo must die" movies😳

Slayven would be proud

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

Win some, lose some. Part of the game.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

The "manipulation" part is definitely a thing. For a couple of years there theaters were essentially giving away tickets for free.

 

[EatinOlives]

Will this mark the end of nearly every single Hollywood blockbuster squeezing in China into its plot in some form or fashion?

 

[hipbabboom]

That's so weird. I feel like I just read a thread a week ago or so about Chinese actors going back to the Chinese market because they didn't feel Hollywood was casting them in big enough roles. Now reading this, does it make sense to go back to a cooling market?

 

[lightskintwin]

That's so weird. I feel like I just read a thread a week ago or so about Chinese actors going back to the Chinese market because they didn't feel Hollywood was casting them in big enough roles. Now reading this, does it make sense to go back to a cooling market?

A cooling market that's still one of the 2 largest markets in the world is still one of the 2 largest markets in the world. LOL

 

[EekTheKat]

“The Great Wall,” the biggest-ever Hollywood-China co-production, starring Matt Damon and backed by Wanda’s Legendary Entertainment, has been a major disappointment. The sci-fi historical film, which cost $150 million to make, has earned just $330 million worldwide since its release in December, far less than the $450 million analysts say it needs to break even.

IMHO, make a good movie and it will usually work itself out in both markets. China isn't completely oblivious to what is a good movie out in the US, and they'll usually line up to see the same film (albeit usually in edited form).

The Great Wall felt like it was firmly in the Transformers 3,4 camp where big budget CGI spectacle outshines everything else. Pacing,story, acting were all pretty subpar. The movie simply wasn't a good movie at all.

Generally speaking the 'good' movies from the US that played out here in China have done pretty well. Marvel movies make solid bank out here, as are a bunch of Dreamworks CGI animated cartoons.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Did the Chinese government have a hand in the the direction of 'The Great Wall'? You can't artificially creativity from the top down if so.

 

[sphagnum]

Who even wanted to see The Great Wall?

 

[airmangataosenai]

It feels so weird seeing the movie being portrayed as this collosal bomb given its actually among the more successful movies Damon has released and 450 million worldwide is fucking ridiculous for expectations. For comparison, that would place that above any action movie Damon has ever starred in. How the fuck is that set as the break even point?

 

[The Llama]

Will this mark the end of nearly every single Hollywood blockbuster squeezing in China into its plot in some form or fashion?

God I hope so...