Film censorship in China

Film censorship in China involves the banning of films deemed unsuitable for release or the editing of such films to remove objected content by the governments in both Republic of China (ROC) and People's Republic of China (PRC). In Mainland China, films are reviewed by the China Film Administration (CFA, Chinese: 国家电影局) under the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which dictates whether, when, and how a movie gets released.[1] The CFA is separate from the NRTA (Chinese: 广电总局) under the State Council (Chinese: 国务院).

The long history in ROC's film censorship is a prelude to that of the PRC, but the exhaustive list of films on this page is going to focus on PRC which is still a one-party state and took over the ROC in controlling mainland China after the Chinese Civil War. ROC has attempted age-based rating system as early as November 1948, become a democracy since the 1980s, and technically dropped censorship requirement in its film law in 2015, despite it still may issue the Restricted rating occasionally for a number of scenarios noted below.

History

1912 to 1949

In 1911, under the Qing dynasty, the Shanghai Autonomous Bureau issued the first regulation on film content, disallowing "obscene content". Violations of the regulation were punishable by revocation of a theater's license to screen films.[2]

Under the Kuomintang (KMT), the government banned foreign films for promoting Christianity, cited as negativity affecting Chinese society, and for including kidnapping and love stories with "carnal desire". Wuxia and shenguai films were banned for promoting "superstition and unscientific thinking", and wuxia was felt to be spreading anarchy and instilling rebellion.[3]

In November 1930, the Legislative Yuan promulgated a Film Censorship Law (Chinese: 電影檢查法-中華民國19年), requiring four types of motion picture contents be edited, removed or banned:[4]

  • Hurts the pride of the Chinese race
  • Violates Three Principles of the People
  • Impedes good morality or violates public order
  • Advocates superstition and heresy

In January 1931, the Executive Yuan formally established the Film Censorship Committee, putting the control of censorship in the hands of the central government for the first time. The committee was tasked with reviewing locally produced films and international films distributed in China.[5] In March 1934, the government amended The Film Censorship Law, restructuring the Committee to include members from the film industry appointed by the Executive Yuan and renamed it to the Central Film Censorship Committee.[6] The law got amended four more times before the KMT lost the civil war and fled to Taiwan in 1949. In November 1948 (Chinese: 電影檢查法-中華民國37年), the reference to the "Three Principles of the People" was dropped and "the interests of the ROC could not be offended" was added in an amendment. Article 10 of the 1948 law also gave birth to a very early-stage motion picture rating system, using age 12 as the cutoff line for content restriction.[7]

1949 to 1983

The ROC regained its footing in Taiwan. In 1955 (Chinese: 電影檢查法-中華民國44年),[8] 1956 (Chinese: 電影檢查法-中華民國45年),[9][10] and 1958 (Chinese: 電影檢查法-中華民國47年),[11] four more amendments to the law ensued without revising the main criteria. The law was renamed the Motion Picture Act (Chinese: 電影法-中華民國72年)[12] in November 1983, and expanded the censorship criteria to include the following:

  • Hurts national interests or racial pride
  • Violates national policy or government ordinance
  • Agitates others to commit crimes or disobey laws
  • Jeopardizes teenager or children's health both physically or psychologically
  • Disrupts public order or impedes good morality
  • Advocates ridiculous heresy or misleads public opinion
  • Defames persons of virtue from the past or distorts historical facts

Article 30 of the 1983 law lowered the age cutoff line from 12 to 6 to dictate whether the viewing should be restricted or not.

1983 to the 2010s

KMT practiced martial law until July 1987. After lifting it, the Executive Yuan, or through its now dissolved Government Information Office (GIO), promulgated regulations to carry out the said revised law starting in 1987 (Chinese: 中華民國七十六年八月三十一日行政院臺七十六聞字第二○二○八號函核定)[13] and 1988 (Chinese: 中華民國七十七年一月一日行政院新聞局（77）銘影二字第○○○○二號令發布).[14] The then regulations revised the motion picture rating system, classifying films into three categories (General Audience/Parental Guidance/Restricted) based on age.[14][15] The categories were expanded into four (General Audience/Protected/Parental Guidance/Restricted) in 1994 (Chinese: 中華民國八十三年四月一日行政院新聞局(83)強影二字第○四一五八號令發布修正第二條、第三條、第五條至第十一條條文).[16]

The film law rephrased the censorship requirement in June 2015. To control the rating system requirement from a legislative perspective, article 9 of the new Motion Picture Act (Chinese: 電影法-中華民國104年), promulgated by the Legislative Yuan, maintains that motion pictures and their advertisements shall not be screened if not granted a rating by the central competent authority which shall convene a rating commission to rate films. Members of the commission shall be representatives of government agencies, and scholars and experts having academic or practical experience in related fields. The commission's conclusions shall be made public and clear rationales for ratings given be listed.[17][18] Article 10 maintains if motion pictures and their advertisements violate restrictions or prohibitions laid out in law, the central competent authority shall not grant a rating. The Ministry of Culture established by the Executive Yuan further specifies that not more than one third of the committee members can come from the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development.[19]

The rating system was expanded into five categories on October 16, 2015 per regulations (Chinese: 中華民國104年10月16日文影字第10420350091號令修正發布) drawn up in accordance with the Motion Picture Act.[20]

The revised Taiwan motion picture rating system which took effect from October 16, 2015.
  • 0+: General Audience (Chinese: 普遍級 or 普) – Viewing is permitted for audiences of all ages.
  • 6+: Protected (Chinese: 保護級 or 護) – Viewing is not permitted for children under 6; children between 6 and 11 shall be accompanied and given guidance by parents, teachers, seniors, or adult relatives or friends.
  • 12+: Parental Guidance 12 (Chinese: 輔導十二歲級 or 輔12) – Viewing is not permitted for children under 12.
  • 15+: Parental Guidance 15 (Chinese: 輔導十五歲級 or 輔15) – Viewing is not permitted for those under 15.
  • 18+: Restricted (Chinese: 限制級 or 限) – Viewing is not permitted for those under 18.

Article 9 of the regulations specifically mentions the Restricted rating will be issued under the following scenario:

where the sale or use of illegal drugs, robbery, kidnapping, killing, or other illegal activities are detailed in the plot; where there is concern that such activity could be mimicked; where terrorism, bloody events, violence, or perversion are particularly vivid and could still be acceptable to persons over age 18. Where sexual imagery or innuendo is portrayed vividly in animation, images, language, text, dialogue, or sound, but does not elicit feelings of shame or disgust in persons over the age of 18.

Article 235 of ROC's Criminal Code also penalizes the distribution, broadcasts, sale, publicly displays of obscene video record.[21][22]

1949 to 1988

The earliest predecessor to SAPPRFT was founded in June 1949.[23] Chinese Communist Party (CCP) won the civil war and founded the new republic on October 1, 1949.

With the ten-year Cultural Revolution, film industry was singled out as a target for public criticism. Mao's wife Jiang Qing blacklisted 54 films.[24]

From the beginning of the Chinese economic reform (1978 onward), the PRC film industry has undertaken a series of decentralizing and privatizing reforms. In January 1986, SAPPRFT's predecessor is finally known as the Administrative Department of Radio, Film and Television (ADRFT) (Chinese: 广播电影电视部).[23]

1988 to 2010s

The ADRFT published its departmental-level film censorship regulation one after another in 1988 (Chinese: 电影审查条例（修改稿）),[25] in 1993 (Chinese: 电影审查暂行规定) and in 1997 (Chinese: 电影审查规定).[26]

The basic principles of the 1993 document were reaffirmed in July 1996, when the State Council of the People's Republic of China promulgated Regulations on the Administration of Movies (Chinese: 1996年电影管理条例) at a higher executive level. Its article 23 & 24 gave executive authority in stipulating that the country shall adopt a film examination system: "films that have not (been) examined and approved by the film examination organ of the administrative department of radio, film and television of the State Council may not be distributed, projected, imported or exported."[27][28]

In March 1998, the ADRFT was renamed State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) (Chinese: 国家广播电影电视总局).[23]

In February 2002, the State Council replaced the 1996 regulations with new ones (Chinese: 2002年电影管理条例).[29][30][31] Article 24 & 25 of the new regulations reiterates the censorship system and remains in effect despite what follows next.

In December 2003, SARFT also issued departmental-level regulation titled Interim Provisions on Project Initiation of Film Scripts (Abstracts) and on the Examination of Films (Chinese: 电影剧本(梗概)立项、电影片审查暂行规定).[32] This soon got updated in July 2004.[33][34] Both the 1997 and 2004 regulations were later replaced by Provisions on the Archival Filing of Film Scripts (Abstracts) and the Administration of Films in June 2006 (Chinese: 电影剧本（梗概）备案、电影片管理规定).[35][36]

In March 2013, the State Council merged SARFT with the General Administration of Press and Publication to form the SAPPRFT (Chinese: 国家新闻出版广电总局).

On November 7, 2016, The 12th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at its 24th session passed the new PRC Film Industry Promotion Law (Chinese: 中国电影产业促进法) from a legislative point of view. The law became effective on March 1, 2017.[37][38][39] Although the country lacks of a rating system like that of the ROC or the Motion Picture Association of America film rating system, according to an unofficial translation of the new law, article 16 stipulates that films must not contain the following content:[40]

  1. Violations of the basic principles of the Constitution of China, incitement of resistance to or undermining of implementation of the Constitution, laws, or administrative regulations;
  2. Endangerment of the national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity; leaking state secrets; endangering national security; harming national dignity, honor or interests; advocating terrorism or extremism;
  3. Belittling exceptional ethnic cultural traditions, incitement of ethnic hatred or ethnic discrimination, violations of ethnic customs, distortion of ethnic history or ethnic historical figures, injuring ethnic sentiments or undermining ethnic unity;
  4. Inciting the undermining of national religious policy, advocating cults or superstitions;
  5. Endangerment of social morality, disturbing social order, undermining social stability; promoting pornography, gambling, drug use, violence, or terror; instigation of crimes or imparting criminal methods;
  6. Violations of the lawful rights and interests of minors (Chinese: 未成年人) or harming the physical and psychological health of minors;
  7. Insults of defamation of others, or spreading others' private information and infringement of others' lawful rights and interests;
  8. Other content prohibited by laws or administrative regulations.

Article 20 of the law stipulates that films for which there is no release license cannot be transmitted over the Internet, telecommunications networks, or radio and television networks, or recorded as audio or video products, except for under other stipulations. If the film could make minors (Chinese: 未成年人) and other audiences feel uncomfortable either physically or psychologically, there should be a reminder.[41] However, in a March 2017 interview with China Central Television (CCTV), SAPPRFT's film chief Mr. Zhang Hongsen (Chinese: 张宏森)[42] said it was inaccurate for the media to label the guideline for minors as manual/euphemistic classification and it was a misinterpretation or over-interpretation of the new law.[43][44]

Article 21 further stipulates that only films with the release license can be submitted for film festival or exhibition consideration. There have been circumstances where a film appears to be trimmed for commercial reasons, but on June 1, 2017, the SAPPRFT issued a notice, forbidding any spread of so-called "complete version", "uncut version", and "deleted scenes", etc. on any platform, including but not limited to online, mobile Internet, broadcast TV.[45][46][47]

On June 30, 2017, the China Netcasting Services Association, an online broadcasting industry body subject to SAPPRFT and Ministry of Civil Affairs,[48] issued a set of guidelines, signaling detailed control on all forms of audiovisual web content, including films.[49] They explicitly prohibit the websites of the association's 600+ members, which include CCTV, Phoenix Television, Hunan Television, Dragon Television, Jiangsu Television, Zhejiang Television, Tencent, Youku, IQiyi, Sohu, etc.,[50] from displaying many things, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Defamation of revolutionary leaders, heroes, People's Liberation Army, armed police, national security apparatus, public security apparatus, and the judiciary branch, etc;
  2. Pornography and cheap taste: prostitution, rape, masturbation, incest, homosexuality, hentai, sexual assault, sexual violence, extramarital affairs, one-night stand, sexual freedom, wife swapping, prolonged or provocative scenes of physical intimacy;
  3. Feudalistic ideology which is pseudoscience: spirit possession, reincarnation, witchcraft, etc.
  4. Showcase excessive horror, psychological pain, hysteria, causing strong stimulation to senses and emotions with uncomfortable pictures, lines, music, and sound effects, etc.

The Chinese Film Censorship System

It is a rather critical administrative way implemented by the Chinese government to manage and control content of films. The establishment and expansion of such a regulatory regime began in 1978 making the country's economy flourish and assisting China develop a wide film market (Bai, 2013). Nevertheless, there are a lot of drawbacks in the Chinese film censorship system. First of all, the system has quite doubtful criteria of a film’s content assessment. It requires a producer to actively participate in self-censorship to ensure that there are no problems with content and ideology. Then the producer needs to apply a censorship application to the film reviewing committee. The committee then decides whether this film is appropriate and can be released. In case the film receives a low grade, the producer should revise its content once more. After the revision, the same procedure takes place. The point is that such a process may continue endlessly and the reasons for a low grade may depend on the viewpoint of committee members.

The committee uses double standards for different film genres. The requirements are rather strict when assessing a film's ideology and content (Bai, 2013). The requirements become even stricter when assessing sexual content, regardless of whether it includes non-obscene or sexually explicit scenes. Though, the requirements are quite tolerant in regard to violent scenes. Even in government-backed Hollywood films, this standard is very evident.

Regulation of Behavior and Advertising Deals of Actors

It is another main element of censorship assessment. Celebrity status and associated richness do not necessarily mean personal liberty in China (Canaves, 2016). Thus, the government calls famous people to maintain self-discipline in public. In order to be more influential in such an industry, celebrities who were seen drunk or showed signs of drug use were immediately blacklisted by the government for moral failures. In addition to controlling actors’ behavior, government officials put a limit on famous actors' money-making activities. Under the advertising law that came into force on September 1, 2015, anyone who take us in an advertisement that promotes a product or service can be held responsible if such an advertisement breaches the law (Canaves, 2016). Lawbreakers face sanctions and, if convicted, can be blacklisted for up to three years from all sponsorship deals.

China's Film Censorship Law Today

The new law, which is primarily focused on censorship, claims that films should not include content that harms national dignity, honor, and ambitions, exposes government secrets, endangers national unity or supports extremism and terrorism. The law also requires all films to obtain a special license if they are to be shown in cinemas and film festivals or on TV and streaming sites (GBTIMES Beijing, 2017). In addition, in regard to screening time, Chinese films should receive two-thirds of the annual cinema screening time. Although a nationwide cinema evaluation system is still to be introduced, in case the content is inappropriate for children, the law requires films to provide the parental advisory label.

List of banned, partially banned, or unreleased films
Title Original release year Country of origin Notes
The Ten Commandments 1923 United States Banned in the 1930s under a category of "superstitious films" due to its religious subject matter involving gods and deities.[51]
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ 1925 United States Banned in the 1930s under a category of "superstitious films" due to its religious subject matter involving gods and deities.[51]
Frankenstein 1931 United States Banned under a category of "superstitious films" due to its "strangeness" and unscientific elements.[51]
Alice in Wonderland 1933 United States Banned under a category of "superstitious films" due to its "strangeness" and unscientific elements.[51]
The Life of Wu Xun 1950 China After initial release and despite praise from other Communist Party leaders, CCP Chairman Mao Zedong published an editorial criticized the film as "fanatically publicising feudal culture" and for its "tolerance for slandering the peasant revolutionary" and described the lead character as "reactionary feudalist ruler". Mao also denounced praise of the film. The film became known as "the first banned film of New China". It was shown in a private showing in 2005 and was released on DVD in 2012.[52]
The Unfinished Comedy 1957 China Banned for undermining socialist morality and attacking the Party.[53][54]
Ben-Hur 1959 United States Banned under the regime of Mao Zedong for containing "propaganda of superstitious beliefs, namely Christianity."[55][56]
Chung Kuo, Cina 1972 Italy Banned for 32 years for "anti-Chinese."[57]
Boat People 1982 Hong Kong The film was banned in mainland China due to violence against Vietnamese refugees and its anti-Communist sentiments.[58] It was also banned in Taiwan because it was filmed on Hainan, an island in the People's Republic of China.[59]
Yellow Earth 1984 China Banned then released.[60]
Back to the Future 1985 United States The film was banned because of time travel.[61] The direct-to-video somehow got approval.[62]
The Horse Thief 1986 China The film waited eight months for approval for public release. Ultimately, director Tian Zhuangzhuang told officials that he would re-edit the film to their specifications, and he worked under the close supervision of two censors to cut footage, including portions of a sky burial.[63][64] Tian felt the process was an "insult" and turned temporarily to commercial filmmaking out of frustration with the censors.[63][65] The released film was later withdrawn.[60]
Ju Dou 1990 China Banned upon initial release, but lifted in 1992.[60][66] The Chinese government gave permission for its viewing in July 1992.[67]
Mama 1990 China Released in China after a two-year ban.[68]
Life on a String 1991 China Banned altogether.[60]
Raise the Red Lantern 1991 China Banned upon initial release, released three years later.[60]
The Blue Kite 1993 China The Beijing Film Studio refused to submit the raw footage to the Central Film Bureau for post-production approval outside the country, and the film was smuggled to Japan for editing. The film showed at international film festivals without the Central Film Bureau's approval, causing the Chinese delegation to withdraw from the Tokyo International Film Festival, and was not approved for showing in China.[63] Because the film overtly criticized government policies, director Tian Zhuangzhuang was subsequently banned in 1994 from filmmaking; the ban was lifted in 1996.[69][70]
Beijing Bastards 1993 China Banned due to subjects involving homosexuality and alienated young people.[71]
Farewell My Concubine 1993 China The film was objected to for its portrayal of homosexuality, suicide, and violence perpetrated under Mao Zedong's Communist government during the Cultural Revolution. It premiered in Shanghai in July 1993 but was removed from theatres after two weeks for further censorial review and subsequently banned in August. Because the film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the ban was met with international outcry.[72] Feeling there was "no choice" and fearing it hurt China's bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics, officials allowed the film to resume public showings in September. This release featured a censored version; scenes dealing with the Cultural Revolution and homosexuality were cut, and the final scene was revised to "soften the blow of the suicide".[73]
To Live 1994 China Banned due to its critical portrayal of various policies and campaigns of the Communist government. In addition, its director Zhang Yimou was banned from filmmaking for two years.[60][74][75] The ban on the film was lifted only in September 2008 after Zhang directed the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.[76]
The Square 1994 China The director was banned on all film-making earlier in the year.[77]
Weekend Lover 1995 China Banned for two years and then released.[78]
Father 1996 China Also known as Baba/Babu,[60] it was banned, but took home the top prize Golden Leopard at the Locarno Festival in 2000.[79]
The Emperor's Shadow 1996 China The film, which depicts the relationship between the government and the arts through a fictionalized relationship of China's first emperor and a court musician, was banned without stated reason after initial release. The film was allowed to show again eight months later.[80]
Kundun 1997 United States The film was banned for depicting China negatively in relation to its incorporation of Tibet into China.[81] The Dalai Lama is considered by China a separatist leader and a threat to Chinese control on the Himalayan region,[82][83] and officials objected to a positive portrayal of the Dalai Lama.[84] Disney produced and distributed the film despite objections China voiced during production, causing China to issue a temporary ban on all Disney films.[85] The ban ended in 1999 with the release of Mulan, and the studio issued an apology during the early negotiation process to build Shanghai Disney Resort.[86][82][87]
East Palace, West Palace 1997 China Banned due to subjects involving homosexuality and alienated young people.[71]
Red Corner 1997 United States The film, about an American man in China falsely accused of murder by corrupt police and facing an unjust judicial system, was banned for an anti-China bias.[88] Officials also made an unsuccessful attempt to postpone the film's opening in the United States, which occurred during a visit by CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin.[85] Actress Bai Ling was also barred from visiting her family in China shortly after the film's release,[89] and Chinese officials issued a memo temporarily ending the business operations in China of the film's production studio and distributor Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer.[85]
Seven Years in Tibet 1997 United States The film was banned for depicting China negatively in relation to its incorporation of Tibet into China.[81] Officials objected to a positive portrayal of the Dalai Lama.[84] A memo was issued by Chinese officials temporarily ending the business operations in China of the film's distributor Columbia TriStar.[85]
Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl 1998 China Banned.[60] It is the most devastatingly implacable indictment of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.[90]
Babe: Pig in the City 1998 United States Censor had a policy that live-action animals with the speech ability was not allowed to be depicted.[91]
Devils on the Doorstep 2000 China Banned[60] partly due to an unpatriotic portrayal of the Chinese in the Second Sino-Japanese War.[76] SAPPRFT was also upset that the director Jiang Wen had submitted it to Cannes Film Festival without its approval.[92] The film is now available on CCTV.com.[93]
Suzhou River 2000 China Director Lou Ye let his 2000 film screen in International Film Festival Rotterdam without official approval and received a two-year ban.[94]
Kiss of the Dragon 2001 France The main character killed people abroad.[95]
Lan Yu 2001 China The film was banned for homosexuality, references to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, and depiction of corruption in Beijing entrepreneurs.[96][97]
Shaolin Soccer 2001 Hong Kong

China

 Banned after the Hong Kong partners in the joint production reportedly opened it in HK without permission from mainland officials.[98]
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life 2003 Multinational coproduction The film was banned for its unflattering depiction of China, which was felt to suggest the country had an absent government and was controlled by secret societies.[99]
Brokeback Mountain 2005 United States The film was banned for homosexuality, a "sensitive topic". Despite this, China praised director Ang Lee upon his winning the Academy Award for Best Director but censored his acceptance speech for references for homosexuality.[100]
Memoirs of a Geisha 2005 United States Though it was originally approved for distribution in China,[101] senior government officials reversed the decision because ethnic Chinese actors played Japanese characters was feared to provoke anti-Japanese sentiments and, because geisha are viewed as prostitutes in China, evoke the Rape of Nanking.[100]
King and the Clown 2005 South Korea The film was not shown in theaters due to "subtle gay themes" and sexually explicit language. It was given permission for distribution on DVD.[102]
Summer Palace 2006 China The film was banned for sexually explicit scenes and for depicting the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Director Lou Ye and producer Nai An received five-year bans.[103][104]
The Da Vinci Code 2006 United States It was withdrawn from cinemas even though it had been on release for three weeks. Some said it was because of political reasons, for example, upsetting Catholics in China.[105] The direct-to-video somehow got approval.[106]
V for Vendetta 2005 United States Starting in Aug 2020, the movie has been removed from China’s major online video platforms, such as iQiyi, Tencent Video, Sohu, Douban, and Maoyan, because of anti-government themes. The Guy Fawkes mask worn by the film character V has been used as a symbol in anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong.[107] The movie was never shown in Chinese theaters, but it was unclear whether it had ever been banned prior to 2020. State-owned China Movie Channel surprised viewers back in 2012 by airing it, leading to false hopes about censorship reform.[108] An article on the Communist party's China Youth Daily website said it was previously prohibited from broadcast,[109] but the Associated Press quoted the then censors's spokesman Wu Baoan (吴保安) who said he was not aware of any ban.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2006 United States Banned in China because it had spirits swarming around as well as depictions of cannibalism[110]
Lost in Beijing 2007 China A heavily edited version of the film began showing in China. Fifteen minutes of content was removed because censors felt that dirty streets, prostitutes, and gambling portrayed China as plagued by greed and sexual temptation. Cuts were made shortly before the Berlin Film Festival, too late for the version to be subtitled in German and English, and an unauthorized version screen instead. As a result, the film was banned in China and the writer-producer Fang Li and the production company Beijing Laurel Films were banned from filmmaking for two years. The censors also stated that the film's marketing included "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" and that Fang illegally distributed "unapproved and pornographic clips" through the internet.[111]
The Dark Knight 2008 United States Warner Bros. did not submit the film to censors for approval, citing "pre-release conditions" and "cultural sensitivities".[112]
Petition 2009 China The documentary depicts brutalization, harassment, and arrest of people who travel to Beijing to ask that wrongdoing by local officials be amended. The film was banned in China immediately following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.[113][114]
Shinjuku Incident 2009 Hong Kong Banned for being "too violent" when director Derek Yee refused to edit this content down.[115]
Spring Fever 2009 Hong Kong

France

 The film was created during a five-year ban instituted on director Lou Ye and producer Nai An, and it showed at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and in international theaters without permission. It portrays a gay romance, explicit sexual scenes and full-frontal nudity.[116]
The Lady 2011 France Uncertain if it would be shown in mainland China which was an ally of Myanmar's military junta which banned the film as of Feb 2012.[117]
Red Dawn 2012 United States The film was not released in China, despite changing the invading antagonist from China to North Korea.[118]
A Touch of Sin 2013 China The film depicts "shocking" violence in China caused by economic inequality and political corruption, including the shooting of local officials. During development of the film, censors asked director Jia Zhangke to revise dialogue and seemed generally unconcerned by violence. Censors did recommend Jia decrease the number of killings but allowed it when Jia refused. The film was cleared for foreign distribution and showed at international festivals. Although the film was initially cleared for local distribution, the film did not open in China on its release date and a directive was given telling journalists not to write about the film. The distributor Xstream Pictures released a statement saying it did not receive a notice the film was banned and that it was continuing to work on local distribution.[119]
World War Z 2013 United Kingdom, United States The movie contains zombies and has a lead role featuring Brad Pitt, whose films and entry to the country were disallowed after he starred in Seven Years in Tibet.[120]
Top Gun 3D 2013 United States The re-release got silent treatment by the censor.[121] The congressional United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission concluded it portrayed U.S. military dominance.[118]
Captain Phillips 2013 United States In hacked emails, Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony Pictures, wrote that the plot of American military saving Chinese citizen would make Chinese censor uncomfortable.[122] The direct-to-video somehow got approval.[123]
Noah 2014 United States Banned for the depiction of prophets.[124]
Under the Dome 2015 China First allowed but then removed per order from Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China.[125] An employee of China Business News may have been fired for leaking the order.[126]
Behemoth 2015 China The documentary portrays the health and environmental effects of coal mining and iron smelting in China. After the film opened in a small venue in China, it was banned from commercial theaters due to early miscommunications about its content.[114] Mentions of the film were removed from the internet, and journalists were directed not to report on the film.[127]
Crimson Peak 2015 United States It was reported that the film may be banned because it contained ghosts and supernatural elements.[128][129] However, Chinese artist and social commentator Aowen Jin believed it more likely that the film was banned due to sexual content and incest.[130]
Mad Max: Fury Road 2015 Australia,

United States

 Submitted and rejected by censors, possibly due to its dystopian themes.[131] The direct-to-video somehow got approval.[132]
Ten Years 2015 Hong Kong Depicting a bleak future for Hong Kong under Beijing's control, the film's makers have never sought distribution in Mainland China.[133] The broadcast of the 35th Hong Kong Film Award, in which this film was honored for best film,[134] was banned.[135]
Trivisa 2016 Hong Kong The film is believed to be banned in part because Jevons Au, blacklisted after directing a short in Ten Years, is one of its three directors. Mentions of the film at the Hong Kong Film Awards, at which it won five awards including Best Picture, were removed.[136]
Suicide Squad 2016 United States Aynne Kokas, author of the book Hollywood in China, explained that removing violence from the film would make it difficult to be released.[137]
Deadpool 2016 United States The film was banned due to violence, nudity, and graphic language. Officials determined that it was not possible to remove the content without affecting the plot.[138] It was finally shown uncensored with the full 108-min runtime in seven screenings in June 2017 during the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival.[139][140]
Call Me by Your Name 2017 United States Due to homosexuality,[141][142] the film was pulled from the Beijing International Film Festival.[143]
Christopher Robin 2018 United States While no official reason was given for denying the film's release, images of Winnie-the-Pooh were previously censored and banned since 2017 after social media users compared Pooh to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, causing the character to become associated with political resistance. However, an alternative theory suggested the film was denied because a number of Hollywood tentpole films were competing for space in the limited foreign film quota.[144]
Berlin, I Love You 2019 Germany Ai Weiwei claimed that the producers were politically pressured to cut the segment he directed because distributors fears his involvement would hurt the film in China. He directed the segment remotely while under house arrest in China for his political activism.[145][146]
Monster Hunter 2020 Japan Soon after the release in China on Dec 3, the film was pulled from theaters because a scene featuring a banter between MC Jin's character and his military comrade was considered racially offensive by local audience, despite the Chinese subtitles interpreted it differently. Jin jokingly said: "Look at my knees!" which is followed by the question "What kind of knees are these?" He then answered, "Chi-knees!" Some Chinese viewers interpreted this as a reference to the racist playground chant "Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees", and therefore as an insult to China. The subtitles, however, interpreted as there is gold under a man's knees, so man should not easily kneel. The film was removed from circulation, and Chinese authorities censored references to it online. Tencent Pictures, which is handling local distribution and is an equity partner in the film, is reported to be remedying the situation, but it remains unclear if the movie would then be re-released.[147]

List of edited films
Title Release year in Mainland China Country of origin Notes
Titanic 1998 United States The scene in which Rose (Kate Winslet) poses nude for a painting is altered to show her from the neck up, removing her breasts from the shot.[148]
Infernal Affairs 2002 Hong Kong The ending sees a triad member who has infiltrated the police shoot a member of his gang to prevent becoming exposed. It was unacceptable in China for a criminal to avoid justice, and three endings were shot for censors to approve. In the chosen ending, the mole is confronted by police and he voluntarily gives up his police badge.[149][150]
Running on Karma 2003 Hong Kong It ran afoul of Beijing censors for depicting a Chinese protagonist (Cecilia Cheung) reincarnated from a Japanese soldier. Such a premise, though overtly comedic, offends a Chinese government to whom Sino-Japanese relations remain fractious. According to the film's co-writer Au Kin-yee, SAPPRFT – ever vigilant against superstition – also objected to the male hero's preternatural ability to perceive the past lives of others. Consequently, the Milkyway Image creative team excised the male hero's extrasensory 'visions' from the mainland release, resulting in nonsensical stretches of action.[151]
Mission: Impossible III 2006 United States Censors felt that the film's establishing shot of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) walking past underwear hung from a clothesline was a negative portrayal of Shanghai.[152] 
Babel 2006 Multinational coproduction Censors cut five minutes of nudity scenes.[153]
Casino Royale 2006 Multinational coproduction Judi Dench as M said she had to substitute the line "'God, I miss the old times" for "[Expletive], I miss the Cold War" for release to be allowed in China.[154]
The Departed 2006 United States Banned from movie theaters for suggesting that the Chinese government might use nuclear weapons against Taiwan,[61] but the direct-to-video got approval (after cutting a few minutes).[155]
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 2007 United States Captain Sao Feng, played by Chow Yun-fat, demonizes the Chinese and Singapore.[156][157]
Lust, Caution 2007 Multinational coproduction Censors objected to the film's "political and sexually provocative content" and criticized the film as a "glorification of traitors and insulting to patriots". Seven minutes of sexually graphic scenes were cut by director Ang Lee. Actress Tang Wei was subsequently banned from Chinese media, and award shows were advised to remove her and the film's producers from guest lists. Online mentions of the film and Tang were removed.[158]
Iron Man 2 2010 United States Words for "Russia" and "Russian" were left untranslated in the subtitles, and the spoken words were muffled.[159]
Titanic 3D 2012 United States The film is again altered to remove Rose's breasts from the scene in which she poses nude for a painting.[148] Satirical jokes attributed the following explanation for the cuts to an SAPPRFT official: 3D effects would cause audiences to "reach out their hands for a touch and thus interrupt other people’s viewing".[160]
Mystery 2012 China The film was edited for release in China. In response, director Lou Ye removed his name from the film and published his negotiations with the censorship bureau onto Weibo.[104]
Men in Black 3 2012 United States An alien disguised as a Chinese restaurant worker was offensive for the screen. 13 minutes were claimed to be cut.
Looper 2012 United States Despite the added Chinese element, the deputy head from SAPPRFT criticized a string of films for not obeying the co-production rules.[161]
Skyfall 2013 United Kingdom A scene in which James Bond (Daniel Craig) kills a security guard in Shanghai was cut for referencing prostitution in Macau, which was felt to be "morally or politically damaging" and because it was felt to suggest China cannot defend itself.[152][162]
Cloud Atlas 2013 Germany, United States Scenes with sexual content involving straight and gay couples were cut. Thirty-eight minutes, roughly twenty percent of the film's original runtime, was removed.[163][164]
Iron Man 3 2013 United States Four minutes of Chinese scenes were added to the local version for "an easier ride with Chinese film censors". They include a product placement from Mengniu Dairy, claiming the milk is good for Iron Man, and additions of Chinese doctors into a surgery scene in order to "court Chinese censors".[152][165]
Django Unchained 2013 United States Violent scenes were altered.[166][167]
No Man's Land 2013 China The film, completed in 2010, underwent a three and a half-year approval process.[168] It experienced two major revisions to reduce violent content and clarify thematic intention, and it was reported that the film was removed from release schedules six times.[169]
Parasyte: Part 1 and Parasyte: Part 2 2014 & 2015 Japan The 2-part film from 2014 and 2015 was merged into one single release in China in 2016, cutting more than 100 minutes of bloody and violent scenes.
Kingsman: The Secret Service 2015 United Kingdom Scenes were cut due to violent and sexual content.[170]
Love 2015 France, Belgium Taiwan's Ministry of Culture refused to issue the Restricted rating in December 2015, citing article 9 of the 2015 regulations and article 235 of the Criminal Code.[21] After the distributor cut 170 seconds of close-ups on physical intimacy, including sexual intercourse, fingering, ejaculation, fellatio, and similar, the film was released in April 2016.[171]
The Revenant 2016 United States Thirty seconds are rumored to have been cut.[172]
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2016 United States A scene in which the characters enjoy an "eyeball feast" was cut.[173]
Hacksaw Ridge 2016 Australia, United States Fewer than thirty seconds of graphic violence were cut.[174]
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter 2017 Multinational coproduction Seven,[120] if not eight, minutes were cut due to graphic violence and blood.[175]
Logan 2017 United States Scenes were removed for violence and "brief nudity". The film was also the first affected by the PRC Film Industry Promotion Law effective on March 1, 2017, which requires the film to include a warning for minors in marketing materials.[176]
Love Off the Cuff 2017 Hong Kong Crude jokes were removed from the film.[177]
Alien: Covenant 2017 United States Six minutes is scenes which titular aliens covered in blood were cut, leaving "one to two minutes" of the creatures in the film. Other scenes involving violence were also altered.[178] The gay kiss scene between two androids David and Walter was also cut.[175]
Bohemian Rhapsody 2019 United Kingdom, United States The film was approved for a limited release after one minute of content was cut. This content involved drug use and the male lead character Freddie Mercury kissing other men. The approval follows public outcry over a local streaming company censoring the phrase "gay man" from Rami Malek's acceptance speech for Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Mercury in the film.[179]
The Eight Hundred 2020 China The film was pulled from the 2019 release slate to please censors. The approved version premiered on Aug 21, 2020 is reported to be 13 minutes shorter than the one that would have screened in 2019.[180]

Run time shortened by the producer and/or the distributor commercially in the first place to ensure the profit of movie theaters
Title Release year in Mainland China Country of origin Notes
The Matrix Reloaded[181] 2003 Australia, United States
Resident Evil: Afterlife[181] 2010 Multinational coproduction
Prometheus[181] 2012 United Kingdom, United States
The Company You Keep 2012 United States Mr. Jiao, a publicity person for the Chinese distributor, told Xiaoxiang Morning Newspaper that 23 minutes were cut for commercial reason. Despite that, the scheduling for the film in Changsha was not satisfactory.[182] Same as Dangal, subsequently, the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT bans the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.[183]
Dhoom 3 2013 India Mr. Peng, a manager of a local cinema in Changsha, to Xiaoxiang Morning News that the three-hour film was too long for Chinese audience.[182] Same as Dangal, subsequently, the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT bans the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.
Resident Evil: Retribution[181] 2013 Multinational coproduction
American Hustle 2014 United States It was reported that local distributors, not SAPPRFT, were behind the trimming of 30 minutes,[181] but same as Dangal, subsequently, the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT bans the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.
Fury[181] 2014 United States
Rush[181] 2015 Multinational coproduction
Allied[181] 2016 United Kingdom, United States
Dangal 2017 India Although China Film Insider reported that the 20+ minute cut was not forced by the censor,[184] the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT banned the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.
The Lost City of Z 2017 United States It was reported that unnamed sources claimed the 37-minute trimmings were made by the film's producers, not by SAPPRFT,[184] but same as Dangal, subsequently, the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT bans the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.

References
  1. "国家新闻出版署（国家版权局）、国家电影局揭牌". people.cn. April 16, 2018. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. Xiao, Zhiwei; Zhang, Yingjin (2002). Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. Routledge. p. 108. ISBN 9781134745548. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  3. Teo 2009, p. 41
  4. "Film Censorship Law of 1930". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  5. Teo 2009, pp. 42
  6. Teo 2009, pp. 41–43
  7. "Film Censorship Law of 1948". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  8. "Film Censorship Law of 1955". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  9. "Film Censorship Law of January 1956". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  10. "Film Censorship Law of November 1956". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  11. "Film Censorship Law of 1958". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  12. "Film Censorship Law of 1983". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  13. "Regulations Governing the Classification of Motion Pictures and Trailers and the Use of advertisements and promotional materials for a motion picture". Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development (in Chinese). Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  14. "1988 Regulations Governing the Classification of Motion Pictures". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). January 1, 1988. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  15. "A Delicate Balance". Taiwan Today. February 1, 1988. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  16. "1994 Regulations Governing the Classification of Motion Pictures". National Central Library Gazette Online (in Chinese). April 1, 1994. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  17. "The Motion Picture Act". Laws and Regulations Database of The Republic of China. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  18. "Film Censorship Law of 2015". National Central Library Gazette Online. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  19. "Important Points of Setting Up the Rating Commission". Ministry of Culture (in Chinese). October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  20. "Regulations Governing the Classification of Motion Pictures and Trailers and the Use of advertisements and promotional materials for a motion picture". Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China. October 16, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  21. "Nudity in "Love" Exceeds Limit – Ministry of Culture Refuses a Rating, Causing Controversy". National Chengchi University Online News (in Chinese). December 8, 2015. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  22. "Criminal Code of the Republic of China". Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  23. "History of the Broadcasting Institution". State Administration of Radio, Film and Television of the PRC (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  24. Xiao, Zhiwei; Zhang, Yingjin (2002). Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 9781134745548. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  25. Gu, Yanmei. "中国大陆电影分级制度探讨——以中国大陆电影分级制度研究状况为引" (PDF). 中国高校人文社会科学信息网 (in Chinese). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  26. "Film Censorship Regulation". Hefei Library (in Chinese). January 16, 1997. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  27. "1996 Regulations on the Administration of Movies". Asian Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  28. "Regulations on the Administration of Movies 1996年电影管理条例". People's Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  29. "2002 Regulations on the Administration of Movies". The World Intellectual Property Organization. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  30. "2002 Regulations on the Administration of Movies". Lawinfochina.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  31. "2002年电影管理条例". State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, & Television of PRC (in Chinese). Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  32. "Interim Provisions on Project Initiation of Film Scripts (Abstracts) and on the Examination of Films". incao.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  33. "Interim Provisions on Project Initiation of Film Scripts (Abstracts) and on the Examination of Films". Lawinfochina.com. July 6, 2004. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  34. "电影剧本（梗概）立项、电影片审查暂行规定". Gov.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  35. "Provisions on the Archival Filing of Film Scripts (Abstracts) and the Administration of Films 电影剧本(梗概)备案、电影片管理规定". PKULaw.cn (Chinese version of Lawinfochina.com) (in Chinese). June 22, 2006. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  36. "Provisions on the Archival Filing of Film Scripts (Abstracts) and the Administration of Films 电影剧本(梗概)备案、电影片管理规定". State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, & TV of PRC (in Chinese). June 22, 2006. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  37. "China introduces film industry law". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  38. Zhang, Laney. "China: First Law on Film Industry Effective in March". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  39. "中华人民共和国电影产业促进法". National People's Congress (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  40. "Film Industry Promotion Law 2016". Chinalawtranslate.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  41. DAI, Xin (June 2018). "REGULATING REPUTATION IN CHINA: PRIVACY, FALSEHOODS, AND SOCIAL CREDIT" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  42. "Zhang Hongsen's resume". State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film & Television of PRC (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  43. Ryan, Fergus. "China's Censors Briefly Lift Veil on Film Review Process". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  44. "Walk Down Chang'an Avenue – Interviewing Film Chief Zhang Hongsen 行走长安街：探访电影局 对话局长张宏森" (in Chinese). CCTV. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  45. "SAPPRFT to Further Strengthen Management of Online Video & Audio Programming's Creation and Broadcast". State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of The People's Republic of China. June 1, 2017. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  46. Miller, Matthew (June 3, 2017). "China's broadcast regulator, tightening control of content, promotes 'core socialist values'". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  47. Feng, Jiayuan. "Regulator tries to tame online video, again – China's latest society and culture news". Supchina.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  48. "Charter". China Netcasting Services Association. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  49. "Netcasting Content Review Guidelines". China Netcasting Services Association. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  50. "Organizational Structure". China Netcasting Services Association. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  51. Yingjin, Zhang (1999). Cinema and Urban Culture in Shanghai, 1922–1943. Stanford University Press. p. 190. ISBN 9780804735728. OCLC 40230511.
  52. "Film banned by Mao becomes a modern hit". South China Morning Post. April 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  53. Paul Clark; Professor Paul Clark (1987). Chinese Cinema: Culture and Politics Since 1949. CUP Archive. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-521-32638-4. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  54. Bao, Ying (2008). "The Problematics of Comedy: New China Cinema and the Case of Lü Ban". Modern Chinese Literature and Culture. 20 (2): 185–228. JSTOR 41482537.
  55. Parker, Mike (November 1, 2015). "Hollywood fears sales slump as China BANS ghost movies". Daily Express. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  56. Mark (April 19, 2011). "5 Types Of Movies You Can't See In China [VIDEOS]". COED Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  57. York, Geoffrey (April 9, 2009). "China lifts ban on film icon". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  58. Foster, Gwendolyn (1995). Women Film Directors: An International Bio-critical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 192. ISBN 978-0313289729.
  59. Fu, Poshek; David Desser (2002). The Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity. Cambridge University Press. p. 184. ISBN 978-0521776028. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  60. Jonathon Green; Nicholas J. Karolides (April 1, 2005). Encyclopedia of Censorship. Facts on File from Infobase Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 978-0816044641. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  61. "Beyond 'The Interview': A short list of films banned for political reasons". Los Angeles Times. December 23, 2014. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  62. Amazon. [2019-01-18].
  63. Clements, Marcelle (April 3, 1994). "Film; "The Blue Kite" Sails Beyond the Censors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  64. "The Horse Thief". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  65. Berry, Michael (2005). Speaking in Images: Interviews with Contemporary Chinese Filmmakers. Columbia University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0231133302. OCLC 56614243.
  66. Zhang Yimou. Frances K. Gateward, Yimou Zhang, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2001, pp. 26–7
  67. Zhang Yimou. Frances K. Gateward, Yimou Zhang, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2001, p. 42.
  68. "Mama". Time Out. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  69. Yang, Jeff (2003). Once Upon a Time in China: a Guide to Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Mainland Chinese Cinema. James Bennett. pp. 92. ISBN 9780743448178. OCLC 53144634.
  70. Halligan, Fionnuala (May 30, 1994). "In Surprise Move, Ministry Issues Blacklist : A Crackdown on Filmmakers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  71. Eckholm, Erik (December 26, 1999). "FILM; Feted Abroad, and No Longer Banned in Beijing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  72. Kristof, Nicholas D. (August 4, 1993). "China Bans One of Its Own Films; Cannes Festival Gave It Top Prize". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  73. Tyler, Patrick E. (September 4, 1993). "China's Censors Issue a Warning". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  74. Ebert, Roger. "To Live Archived September 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." Chicago Sun Times. December 23, 1994. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  75. Zhang Yimou. Frances K. Gateward, Yimou Zhang, University Press of Mississippi, 2001, pp. 63–4.
  76. Chu, Karen (October 2, 2008). "More ban for the buck in China". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  77. Rooney, David (1995). "Review: 'The Square'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  78. Watts, Jonathan (September 8, 2006). "Camera obscured". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  79. "Award for banned Chinese film". BBC. August 13, 2000. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  80. "Zhou Xiaowen on "The Emperor's Shadow"". IndieWire. December 17, 1998. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  81. Wendy, Su (2016). China's encounter with global Hollywood : cultural policy and the film industry, 1994–2013. University Press of Kentucky. p. 112. ISBN 9780813167060. OCLC 958392172.
  82. Brzeski, Patrick (August 16, 2016). "Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' Lands Distributor in China". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  83. Weinraub, Bernard (November 27, 1996). "Disney Will Defy China on Its Dalai Lama Film". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  84. Farley, Maggie (November 4, 1007). "Hong Kong Bows to Beijing in Turning Away 3 U.S. Films". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  85. Waxman, Sharon (November 1, 1997). "China Bans Work With Film Studios". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  86. Eckholm, Erik (February 8, 1999). "Easing Tensions, Disney Gains O.K. to Show 'Mulan' in China". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  87. Ressner, Jeffrey (December 9, 1996). "Disney's China Policy". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  88. Rosen, Stanley (June 18, 2006). "Hollywood and the great wall". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  89. Qin, Amy (November 1, 2016). "To Many in China, Bai Ling's Role in Documentary Is a Step Too Far". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  90. Sarris, Andrew (May 21, 1999). "Banned in China, Joan Chen's Xiu Xiu Horrifies". The Observer. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  91. Schwankert, Steven (July 18, 2017). "Is Winnie the Pooh Banned in China?". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  92. Holden, Stephen (December 18, 2002). "FILM REVIEW; Heroics, Horrors and Farce in War-Torn China". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  93. "Devils on the Doorstep". China Central Television. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  94. "Banned Chinese director heads to Palestinian territories". The Guardian. March 28, 2007. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  95. "Jet Li attacks China film censors". BBC. August 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  96. Ansen, David (July 29, 2002). "Film: From China, With Love". Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  97. Friess, Steve (August 18, 2002). "Defying China's Unwritten Rules". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 9, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  98. Lau, Shirley (September 8, 2001). "Shaolin Soccer booted out of mainland". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  99. "China bans Tomb Raider sequel". BBC. August 29, 2003. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  100. Barboza, David (March 12, 2006). "Read all about 'Brokeback,' but you won't see it in China". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  101. "Chinese censors 'ban' Brokeback". BBC. January 28, 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  102. "China wary of S. Korean film". Los Angeles Times. July 7, 2006. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  103. Hunter, Stephen (September 7, 2007). "'Summer Palace': Sex and Politics in a Turbulent China". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  104. Gibson, Anthony (November 15, 2013). "Chinese film-maker Lou Ye: Social media is weakening censorship". Metro. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  105. "China pulls The Da Vinci Code". June 13, 2006. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  106. Amazon Archived April 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. [2019-01-18].
  107. Huang, Tzu-ti (August 18, 2020). "'V for Vendetta' pulled in China". Taiwan News. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  108. "China anti-censorship hopes rise after state TV airs V for Vendetta". Associated Press. December 20, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  109. "央视播出"禁片"让人感到惊喜-中国青年报". zqb.cyol.com. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  110. Sims, David (October 22, 2015). "China's No-Ghost Protocol Is Hampering Movie Flops". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  111. "China slaps filmmaking ban on producers of Lost in Beijing". CBC News. January 4, 2008. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  112. McNary, Dave (December 23, 2007). "China to miss out on 'Dark Knight'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  113. Wong, Edward (August 13, 2011). "Chinese Director's Path From Rebel to Insider". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  114. Qin, Amy (December 28, 2015). "As China Hungers for Coal, 'Behemoth' Studies the Ravages at the Source". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  115. "Where You Can See Jackie Chan's Banned Film, 'Shinjuku Incident'". Blog.moviefone.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  116. Lim, Dennis (July 30, 2010). "In 'Spring Fever,' Lou Ye Confronts China's Repression". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  117. Lau, Joyce Hor-Chung (February 8, 2012). "Perfect Timing for 'The Lady'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  118. O’Connor, Sean; Armstrong, Nicholas (October 28, 2015). "DIRECTED BY HOLLYWOOD, EDITED BY CHINA: HOW CHINA'S CENSORSHIP AND INFLUENCE AFFECT FILMS WORLDWIDE" (PDF). The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  119. Wong, Edward (November 22, 2013). "No Release in Sight for Film Exploring China's Violence". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  120. Ryan, Fergus (February 16, 2017). "China Censors Slash 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  121. Cieply, Michael; Barnes, Brooks (January 14, 2013). "To Get Movies into China, Hollywood Gives Censors a Preview". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  122. Baldwin, Clare; Cooke, Kristina (July 24, 2015). "How Sony sanitized the new Adam Sandler movie to please Chinese censors". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  123. Amazon. [2019-01-18].
  124. Nathan, Fred (May 9, 2014). "Noah denied release in China". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  125. Wong, Edward (March 6, 2015). "China Blocks Web Access to 'Under the Dome' Documentary on Pollution". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  126. Wildau, Gabriel (March 6, 2015). "China pulls smog documentary offline after internet storm". Financial Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  127. Suber, Alex (March 16, 2016). "Interview: Zhao Liang Talks Behemoth and Censorship". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  128. Brzeski, Patrick (October 21, 2015). "China's No-Ghost Rule Could Haunt 'Crimson Peak'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  129. Sims, David (October 22, 2015). "Why China Bans Movies Featuring Ghosts". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  130. Jin, Aowen (December 6, 2015). "Is China really scared of ghost films?". BBC. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  131. Shackleton, Liz (March 2, 2016). "Oscar films face tough road in China". Screendaily.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  132. Amazon. [2019-01-18].
  133. "Ten Years: Controversial Hong Kong film wins top Asia award". BBC. April 4, 2016. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  134. "Nomination and Awardees list of The 35th Hong Kong Film Awards". Hong Kong Film Awards Association. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  135. Brzeski, Patrick (April 3, 2016). "Controversial Dystopian Movie 'Ten Years' Wins Best Picture at Hong Kong Film Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  136. Lee, Edmund (April 10, 2017). "Why is Trivisa the latest Hong Kong best picture banned in China?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  137. Lubin, Gus (October 14, 2016). "18 Hollywood movies that pandered to China's giant box office". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  138. Brzeski, Patrick (January 17, 2016). "'Deadpool' Denied Release in China Due to Graphic Violence". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  139. "The 20th Shanghai International Film Festival". SIFF Official Website. June 17, 2017. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  140. Martin, Erica (June 14, 2017). "Shanghai International Film Festival Kicks Off This Weekend". That's Shanghai. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  141. Brzeski, Patrick (March 26, 2018). "Beijing Film Festival Drops 'Call Me by Your Name' As China Tightens Grip on Media". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  142. Li, Pei; Jourdan, Adam (March 6, 2018). Macfie, Nick (ed.). "Beijing festival pulls award-winning gay film amid content squeeze". Beijing, Shanghai: Reuters. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  143. "A Film Festival in China Has Dropped Call Me By Your Name From Its Lineup". Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  144. Siegel, Tatiana (August 3, 2018). "Disney's 'Christopher Robin' Won't Get China Release Amid Pooh Crackdown". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  145. Frater, Patrick; Meza, Ed (February 20, 2019). "Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Accuses 'I Love You, Berlin' Producers of Censorship". Variety. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  146. Roxborough, Scott (February 18, 2019). "Ai Weiwei Was Cut From 'Berlin, I Love You' Because Backers Feared a China Backlash". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  147. Davis, Rebecca (December 5, 2020). "'Monster Hunter' Pulled From Chinese Cinemas Over Scene Said to Be Racial Slur". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  148. Brzeski, Patrick (April 12, 2012). "Chinese 'Titanic' Fans Balk at Cuts to Rerelease". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  149. Sala, Ilaria Maria (September 22, 2016). "'No ghosts. No gay love stories. No nudity': tales of film-making in China". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 3, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  150. Vittachi, Nury (January 1, 2015). "China's Crime-Free Crime Films". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  151. Chan, Felicia; Willis, Andy (2016). Chinese Cinemas: International Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN 9781317431480. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  152. Langfitt, Frank (May 18, 2015). "How China's Censors Influence Hollywood". NPR. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  153. "Babel cut for Chinese audiences". Metro UK. March 27, 2007. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  154. "Judi Dench continues to earn Academy's respect". CTV News. January 25, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  155. "《无间道风云》删敏感情节 内地将发行DVD". sohu. April 12, 2007. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  156. "China censors "Pirates" for "vilifying Chinese"". Thomson Reuters. June 15, 2007. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  157. "China gives bald pirate the chop". Associated Press. June 15, 2007. Archived from the original on June 18, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2006.
  158. Chu, Karen (March 9, 2008). ""Lust, Caution" actress banned in China". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  159. "'Iron Man' shows Hollywood's bent to take on China censors' steely grip". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  160. Anderson, Chris (April 13, 2012). "China Censors Kate Winslet's 'Titanic 3D' Breasts". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  161. Burkitt, Laurie (August 27, 2012). "Warning from China Film Watchdog: Not Enough 'Co' in Co-Productions". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  162. "Censored Bond film Skyfall opens in China". BBC. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  163. Watt, Louise (January 24, 2013). "Chinese censors chop 38 minutes from Cloud Atlas including gay and straight love scenes". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  164. Gupta, Prachi (January 24, 2013). "Chinese censors cut love scenes from 'Cloud Atlas'". Salon. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  165. Wan, William (May 6, 2013). "'Iron Man 3' is latest Hollywood movie to court Chinese censors". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  166. Child, Ben (April 10, 2013). "Quentin Tarantino stems bloodflow in Django Unchained for Chinese market". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  167. Child, Ben (May 14, 2013). "Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, slashed, sees weak Chinese opening". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  168. Coonan, Clifford (December 4, 2013). "After Lengthy Ban, 'No Man's Land' Blasts Onto Chinese Screens". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  169. Lin, Lilian (December 3, 2013). "After Battling Censors, Chinese Thriller Finally Premieres". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  170. Coonan, Clifford (March 30, 2015). "China Box Office: Colin Firth's Charm Helps 'Kingsman' to Regal Performance". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  171. "Famous Banned Film Director's New Movie – Steamy Scenes Challenge Censorship". Liberty Times (in Chinese). March 28, 2016. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  172. Papish, Jonathan (March 17, 2016). "On Screen China: Behind 'The Revenant's Fast Trip to Chinese Screens". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  173. Schwankert, Steven (December 1, 2016). "Tim Burton's 'Peculiar Children' Makes Cut for China Market". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  174. Ryan, Fergus (December 13, 2016). "'Hacksaw Ridge' Gives Itself 12+ Age Rating for China". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  175. Brzeski, Patrick (June 18, 2017). "Chinese Censors Cut Michael Fassbender's Gay Kiss From 'Alien: Covenant'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  176. Ryan, Fergus (March 1, 2017). "'Logan' Becomes First Film in China Affected By New Law". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  177. Jifan, Wang (May 8, 2017). "Four minutes shorter than the HK version. What's gone?". HK01.com. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  178. Liu, Charles (June 9, 2017). "China Censored Version of 'Alien: Covenant' Has Next to No Alien in It". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  179. Brzeski, Patrick (February 27, 2019). "'Bohemian Rhapsody' Gets Surprise Permission for China Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  180. Davis, Rebecca. "'The Eight Hundred' Marches to $119 Million Total at Chinese Box Office". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  181. Papish, Jonathan (March 8, 2017). "R-Rated Films in China". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  182. Li, Fangming (July 16, 2014). "咔嚓后，是福利还是残缺？". Xiaoxiang Morning News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  183. 新华社. 新闻出版广电总局发文加强网络视听节目管理 Archived October 10, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. gov.cn. 2017-06-02. [2019-03-03].
  184. Ryan, Fergus (May 25, 2017). "'Lost City of Z' Trims Runtime to Take on 'Wonder Woman'". China Film Insider. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.

Bibliography
  • Teo, Stephen (2009). "Reactions Against the Wuxia Genre". Chinese Martial Arts Cinema: The Wuxia Tradition. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 38–53. ISBN 978-0748632862.
  • Bai, S. (2013). Recent developments in the Chinese film censorship system [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1478&context=gs_rp.
  • Canaves, S. (2016). Trends in Chinese film law and regulation. ChinaFilmInsider. Retrieved from http://chinafilminsider.com/trends-in-chinese-film-law-and-regulation/.
  • GBTIMES Beijing. (2017). China launches first film censorship law. GBTimes. Retrieved from https://gbtimes.com/china-launches-first-film-censorship-law.

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.