China's summer box office: "We are seeing globalisation of the film industry"

CGTN Europe

CGTN Europe interviewed Conor Riley, Independent film journalist

Transcript

00:00Let's talk to Connor Riley, who's an independent film journalist.

00:03Connor, thanks for coming on the show. Good to see you.

00:05So, look, big takings at China's box office in particular.

00:09What is it that's luring audience into theatres?

00:13I think since COVID, we've all been looking for a really good opportunity to return back to cinemas.

00:17And I think the title you've just mentioned is a really strong example of an escape into cinema once again.

00:24So we're seeing that and we're also seeing the big studios re-evaluate some of their stronger titles and their brands

00:32and reconsidering their position as a way that, you know, now that streaming is really rising,

00:38as a way of really challenging what we as an audience want from a cinema.

00:42Well, you talk about re-evaluating the brand, but, you know, superhero sequels and franchises,

00:47they tend to do pretty well everywhere.

00:49Do you think, though, that global audiences are maybe getting tired of the same old content?

00:55I think so. I think we've definitely seen that earlier this year with the release of Thunderbolts,

01:01the Marvel Studios title.

01:03It was a different swing from the Marvel property, very tonally different,

01:08but yet underperformed at the box office.

01:10So I think there is a real oversaturation, perhaps, with audiences

01:14and a bit of fatigue that we're experiencing,

01:17where even though the studios are trying to re-evaluate,

01:20there's a bit of hesitancy to go and see them.

01:22I do also think that there's perhaps a slight issue here with Disney having such a stronghold

01:28over streaming that audiences can just wait a month or two

01:32and it will go into streaming, saving them that cost of cinemas,

01:35which, you know, you're missing out on that cinema experience.

01:38Let's talk about filmmakers and the big studios and the future there,

01:44because Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on films made outside the United States.

01:50And China in response said it might limit the number of foreign films released there.

01:53So how do you think all that might affect the box office and the film world as a whole?

01:57Yeah, I mean, the industry has been struggling since Covid.

02:03So during the Covid years, all the production's halted.

02:06And then, as I'm sure you can remember, there were the strikes last year.

02:10So the tariffs are just another block that we're experiencing in the industry.

02:14So, yes, it will have an impact, but it's nothing that we aren't prepared for,

02:19because we've experienced it over the last few years.

02:21It is interesting, though, while Noja 2 has been this huge blockbuster hit,

02:26it's been less popular in international markets.

02:29Do you think Hollywood is set to dominate the international box office,

02:33or do you maybe, are we going to maybe see things fragmenting?

02:38Yeah, I think we'll definitely see some fragmenting over the next few years.

02:42I mean, we've certainly seen it in the rise of South Korean films.

02:45They've definitely boomed over the last few years,

02:47with Parasite winning the best picture at the Oscars.

02:49So we are definitely seeing a more globalisation of the film industry.

02:55So I'm hoping that what that will then mean is that more Chinese titles will enter the industry

03:00and we'll start to see more wider foreign films for a Western audience,

03:06aside from just English language.

03:08Connor Riley, thank you very much.

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