China’s top film regulator said on Thursday it will moderately reduce the number of US films imported, according to a release it posted on its website.
When recently asked whether the US tariff hikes on Chinese goods would affect the import of US films, a spokesperson for the China Film Administration said that the US government’s erroneous practice of imposing excessive tariffs on China will inevitably further diminish Chinese audiences’ goodwill toward US films, according to the release.
“We will follow the law of the market, respect the choice of the audience, and moderately reduce the number of imported US films,” said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson also emphasized that China – the world’s second-largest film market – remains committed to high-level openness and will introduce excellent films from more countries to meet market demand, according to the release.
The remarks come amid escalating trade tensions between the two countries as the punitive tariffs the US administration has levied on imports from China have soared continuously.
Speculations about the ban on Hollywood movies surfaced on Tuesday after several influential Chinese bloggers post an identical set of measures that authorities are mulling to hit back at the latest tariff threats from the US, including a ban on Hollywood movies.
When asked to comment on these posts on Tuesday at the regular press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said “we don’t comment on what’s been said on the Internet. I just made clear China’s position. We will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard our legitimate and lawful rights and interests.”
Following Thursday’s announcement of the plan, some Chinese netizens voiced support for such decision and some left comments on Sina Weibo, China’s X-like platform, saying that they did not really like recent US studio film products anyway.
Chinese experts noted that the ongoing tariff row with the US has amplified public disillusionment with US soft power.
Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday that for a long time, American films have been a key tool for the US to shape its national soft power, while also serving as an important channel for disseminating American values and establishing a polished image of itself. In the past, American movies spread widely across the globe, subtly exporting the ideals and lifestyles promoted by the US to audiences worldwide.
However, today’s reality of US tariff policies reveals a starkly different side. By pursuing an “America First” policy and wielding tariffs to arbitrarily deprive other countries of their basic right to development, the US has laid bare its hegemonic behavior. Hollywood’s idealized portrayals of American values increasingly clash with real-world perceptions of US “hegemonic behavior,” Chen said.
Against this backdrop, the beautiful scenes crafted in American films—standing in sharp contrast to the real-world hegemonic actions of the US—increasingly appear as deliberate fabrications, making it difficult for viewers to feel any genuine appreciation, Chen added.
“This dissonance has led audiences to question the authenticity of US cultural narratives, fueling a preference for homegrown content that reflects China’s cultural confidence,” Chen said.
Market data has already illustrated a decline in the appeal of Hollywood films in China even before the latest announcement.
As of April 9, 2025, about 10 US films in 2025 had been released in the Chinese mainland, with only Captain America: Brave New World and A Minecraft Movie grossing more than 100 million yuan ($13.60 million), according to the report of a Shanghai-based outlet.
“The National Film Administration of China’s decision to moderately reduce the import of American films aligns with the growth trajectory of domestic cinema and reflects the evolving landscape of China’s film industry,” Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times on Thursday, adding that as Chinese audiences continue to prioritize culturally relevant and high-quality content, the market is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping the future of global cinema.
Zhang Peng, a film researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times that Chinese audiences are also increasingly drawn to high-quality domestic productions that resonate with local culture and values.
Films like The Wandering Earth and Ne Zha 2 have not only achieved box office success but also gained international recognition. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s reliance on sequels and superhero franchises has led to creative stagnation, further diminishing its appeal, Zhang said.
By KBC Digital
