Celebrity Fan Web – Disney’s latest Marvel film Thunderbolts premiered in Chinese theaters on Wednesday, becoming the first U.S. movie to debut in China since a new wave of tariffs escalated trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Despite the strained political backdrop, the film secured its release ahead of China’s recent move to restrict American cultural imports in response to U.S. trade measures.
The movie follows an unlikely alliance of antiheroes battling a major villain, continuing Marvel’s interconnected cinematic universe. However, Thunderbolts enters a market that has grown increasingly skeptical of Hollywood. Although 42 U.S. films hit Chinese cinemas in 2024, local audiences are steadily drifting toward homegrown productions. In early 2025, Snow White earned just 9 million yuan (about $1.24 million), and Captain America: Brave New World grossed 104 million yuan. In contrast, China’s Ne Zha 2 has already surpassed 7 billion yuan, illustrating the scale of local dominance.
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Generational Shift in Cinema Preferences Undermines Hollywood’s Longstanding Appeal in China
Pan Lei, a 49-year-old moviegoer in Beijing, struggled to recall the last American film he watched in theaters. After some thought, he named Dune, which premiered four years ago. Like many in his generation, Pan remembers when Hollywood blockbusters such as Titanic, Speed, True Lies, and Iron Man were cinematic events in China. For years, American movies were a staple at the box office, setting the standard for visual spectacle and storytelling. But those days are fading.
Pan believes younger Chinese audiences no longer hold the same admiration for Hollywood that his generation once did. As China’s domestic film industry has grown stronger, local productions now dominate the market with culturally resonant stories and homegrown talent. Over the past decade, Chinese-made films have steadily replaced imported titles as top box office earners. This shift reflects a broader cultural realignment where national pride and relatable narratives increasingly outweigh foreign appeal.
Hollywood’s Thunderbolts Faces Uncertain Future as China Strengthens Its Own Film Industry
Since 2015, Chinese films have consistently dominated the local box office, taking the top spot every year. Foreign films, once common at the top of Chinese cinema rankings, are now rarely seen in leading positions. Even without the current trade dispute and growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, industry experts say Hollywood’s era of dominance in China may be over.
Stanley Rosen, a political science professor at the University of Southern California, noted that China’s film industry has grown increasingly independent. He said the country has absorbed key lessons from earlier partnerships, such as its collaboration with DreamWorks in Shanghai, and now produces blockbuster films that can rival Hollywood in scale and appeal. “China simply does not need the Hollywood blockbusters anymore,” Rosen stated. He added that only two Hollywood films crossed the $100 million mark in China last year, and he doesn’t expect any to reach that milestone this year.