Why did China ban Spider-Man?
Chinese censors have always banned movies that threaten their values, however Spider-Man did not seem to challenge this narrative. So why did China ban Spider-Man?
Ever since Hollywood entered the Chinese market in the early '90s, the importance of Chinese audiences was apparent. Over recent years the Chinese market has grown in significance to the point of deciding whether a film is ultimately successful or not. Given the countries importance to the overall profitability of Tinsel Town, it is of little surprise that their censors are able to increasingly demand changes to films that threaten the Chinese narrative. Despite this, the recent Sony/Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man did not appear to challenge Chinese values.
Tanya Beckett takes a closer at How China鈥檚 increasing influence is affecting the movie-making process in Hollywood.
Producer: Christopher Blake
Editor: Richard Vadon
(Giant billboard screens advertising Spider-man in Hong Kong, China. Dec 2021. Credit: Budrul Chukrut /Getty Images)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
- Thu 2 Jun 2022 07:06GMT麻豆社 World Service
- Thu 2 Jun 2022 14:06GMT麻豆社 World Service
- Thu 2 Jun 2022 21:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
Podcast
-
![]()
The Inquiry
Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world
