US films are about to be less welcome in China

As trade tensions between the two countries escalate, China's regional film org confirms it will "moderately reduce" American film imports.
April 10, 2025

The China Film Administration has confirmed that it will be importing fewer Hollywood films going forward, as a direct response to the Trump administration’s planned trade tariffs.

In an official statement published today, the org noted that the favorability and appeal of American films among local Chinese audiences will “inevitably” decline as a result of growing trade tensions between the two countries—and more specifically, after the US raised its import tariff on Chinese goods to 125% yesterday.

“We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported,” the CFA emphasized. The organization also wants to “introduce more excellent films from the world to meet market demand,” signaling a potential opportunity for other countries to distribute more films in China.

Historically a key contributor to the global success of Hollywood films, China’s theatrical market has been more focused on domestic hits like animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 lately, which is helping to revive its box office.

Nonetheless, imported kids movies have been a fairly consistent draw with local Chinese audiences. Last year’s Despicable Me 4 earned an impressive US$58 million in China, and more recently, A Minecraft Movie (pictured) opened to a US$14 million-debut there last week.

As per existing trade agreements, US studios currently have access to 25% of the box-office revenue their films generate in China, a figure that can be as high as 50% in other major markets.

About The Author

Search

Menu

Brand Menu