Globally, the tides have shifted when it comes to which country dominates the cinematic universe. China is outracing the United States in producing new quality films that are worthy of winning prestigious awards and gaining viewers attention. Hollywood seems to have grown tired when it comes to inventing new storylines that haven’t already been portrayed. I personally have always had a love for classic stories, and don’t mind the presence of their remakes in the film scene, but often, a remake is a disservice that will never compare with the original. Currently, every popular franchised movie in the United States is a formulaic repetition of tired narratives, relying on nostalgic reboots that lack the creativity and originality that once defined the industry. Meanwhile, China’s film industry is experiencing a revival, taking risks into exploring diverse genres and untold stories. Chinese filmmakers are currently pushing boundaries and delivering more and more cinematic masterpieces that captivate global audiences with their unique storylines and bold stylistic approaches.
Similarly, the number of songs from the United States that sample ones produced years ago is rapidly increasing. It is estimated that nowadays “20 to 25% of the songs on the Hot 100” had some level of interpolation. Artists believe in order to get traction for their music, sampling is necessary to establish a level of familiarity. In the movie industry, familiarity is utilized, but it doesn’t work like it does in the music industry. Movies need a sense of uniqueness and differentiation. No one wants to watch the same two-hour story done over and over again and it creates this divide in what repetition works and what doesn’t.
The conversation that concern the United States’ position in the film industry didn’t arise out of nowhere. According to data from the consultancy Artisan Gateway, Hollywood films amassed a 48.2% share of China’s box office revenue in 2012, but slipped to just 12.3% in 2021. This downward trend creates the misguided belief that American media is not appealing to China’s population. However, it could equally mean that Chinese audiences are finding a stronger connection with new Chinese films due to China’s recently launched campaign to begin its own culture of cinema.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tensions have grown worldwide. That said, it’s not surprising that China has begun to invest inwards, including their film industry. China has plans to construct thousands of new movie screens to circulate movies that exhibit Chinese spirit. They have started funding domestic filmmakers and increasing the visual quality and entertainment level of movies. As a result, the American film industry is no longer gaining billions of dollars in profits or future film investments from Chinese audiences.
On Netflix, the amount of internationally-made shows and movies has increased considerably. For individuals who dislike dealing with the subtitles, Netflix has also provided English voice overs for shows that are in other languages. This has made almost all foreign shows easy to watch and understand, allowing Americans to reconsider viewing content that had a language barrier.
As the quality and accessibility of foreign media increases, it has allowed audiences to extend their film taste. If the United States wasn’t a nation so fixated on economic status, I don’t believe there would be an issue with other nations sharing the industry. Film production is a form of art and shouldn’t be pursued for greed. No true director goes on set and makes their top priority capital gain. The best films come out of authenticity and hours of work put into them by editors, actors, designers, directors and writers who care intensely for the stories they are telling. Cinema can continue to be the cherished industry it always has been if the goal is creating empowering and entertaining films that provide humans with an escape from reality. Movies help individuals know they are not alone in their struggles and help people better understand the world. The film industry gaining higher quality relatable content can never be seen as a disadvantage, but as a pathway to allowing more individuals to connect with narratives that resonate with their personal experiences and ultimately bring them joy and fulfillment.
Alexa Carliatta, FCRH’26, is a biological sciences major from Eastchester, N.Y.
