Overseasidol.com — Several Japanese movies scheduled for release in China, including Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers and Cells at Work!, will be postponed.
The importers and distributors confirmed the decision. They said the adjustment was made after evaluating the recent performance of Japanese films and the current sentiment of Chinese audiences.
Earlier, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Strikes Again opened with strong ticket sales. The film gained early success due to its established fanbase.
However, comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi triggered public anger in China. The controversy quickly affected the movie’s reputation.
Its box office sharply declined just three days after release. Forecasts for its fifth-day earnings have dropped to around 20 million yuan.
Because of this situation, importers and distributors decided to delay other Japanese films originally planned for release.
They stated that provocative remarks from Japan would likely influence how Chinese audiences perceive Japanese movies.
The companies said they will follow market behavior and respect audience preferences while adjusting release plans.
As of November 16, China’s box office has reached 45.543 billion yuan this year, keeping the country as the second-largest film market in the world.
Domestic films have earned 40.298 billion yuan, accounting for 88.48% of the total.
This year also marks the third time in history that Chinese films have surpassed 40 billion yuan in a single year.
Takaichi openly said that the Taiwan Strait crisis could lead to the deployment of Japanese troops. This angered China because of Japan’s interference in the Taiwan issue.
