Well, despite suggestions that the subject matter might have fallen foul of the strict censors there – who tend to ban movies that “promote cults or superstition” – it’s more a case of popularity than anything else.
Advertisement
On occasion, the Chinese market has helped USA movies that have bombed in their home country, with Duncan Jones’ much-ridiculed Warcraft making more than half its money in China, where it was released as World of Magic Beasts.
The Ghostbusters reboot features an all-female lead cast, with Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in roles similar to the paranormal investigators previously played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Harold Ramis in the original films, which were released in the ’80s. However, sources from China Film Bureau, the state-run media body that manages the release of all foreign movies in the country, have said that is not the reason why the movie will not be released in China.
American horror films also have historic difficulties securing a Chinese release.
Before the decision was made, Sony even attempted to rework the Chinese title, which translated to “Ghost Catcher Dare Die Team” to “Super Power Dare Die Team”.
Ghostbusters, directed by Paul Feig and starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, opening on July 15th in the United States, is expected to face a hard opening weekend, with a projected $50 million take off a $144 million budget.
Since THR posted its story, Deadline reported that Sony has yet to submit “Ghostbusters” for consideration in China, but plans to in the coming weeks. The film will traffic heavily in nostalgia, which won’t make sense to a Chinese population that largely hasn’t seen the original two films.
Advertisement
The sequel, 1989’s Ghostbusters II, grossed just over $US200 million.
