A U.S. film producer has emphasized how the power of cinema can serve as a bridge in connecting cultures and bringing global audiences together, while also stressing the increasing appeal of China's growing movie market to filmmakers worldwide.
China's 2025 box office revenue surged past the 50-billion-yuan (over 7 billion U.S. dollars) milestone earlier this month, according to the China Film Administration, with a series of big blockbusters throughout the year drawing out film fans across the country.
The market was given a further boost towards the end of the year with the release of popular international movies in recent weeks including Disney's animated animal comedy "Zootopia 2" and the latest installment in director James Cameron's epic sci-fi series "Avatar: Fire and Ash".
Janet Yang, an American film and TV producer who is also former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, pointed to the performance of these films as evidence of the crucial role movies play in fostering cultural exchanges, while also noting how Hollywood is increasingly trying to tap into growing influence of the Chinese market.
"For me personally, and I think for so many people I know, culture, movies are such a wonderful way to build bridges. And for us to be reminded that we have so much more in common than we do differences in many cases. And again, Avatar has been popular in China. I think to see the latest version of it in China, and to know that the director James Cameron takes the market very, very seriously and has connected with Chinese people, it's all good," she said.
The year's stand-out performer in China's domestic film scene was undoubtedly the animated sequel "Ne Zha 2," which shattered box office records as it raked in more than 2 million U.S. dollars after hitting screens around the world back in the summer.
The movie ignited a cultural phenomenon as it became the highest-grossing animated feature ever made, ranking among the top five earners of all time globally, underscoring the growing clout of China's film industry.
Citing the success of the film, which has been widely praised for its impressive visuals, Yang stressed how such compelling content is essential to winning over audiences in the Chinese market.
"Certainly, I've noticed that Ne Zha and especially Ne Zha 2 did incredible business in China and it does take sometimes these so-called blockbusters for people to really take notice, I think. With Ne Zha performing so well, it became obvious that the audiences in China are as eager as they are in many places to see wonderful materials," she said.
In addition to delivering dazzling cinematography and special effects, Yang also emphasized that creating a genuine emotional connection through storylines that resonate with local viewers is key for international films to succeed in China.
"I think it's really important to pull back and say, what are the themes of this project? Can they be relatable to audiences elsewhere and in this case China. And what is it that is going to touch people? They need that connection somehow, that emotional connection, and sometimes the films are just not that relatable, so it really is part of the thought processing," said Yang.
US producer stresses movies' role as cultural bridge, growing appeal of Chinese market
