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Film censorship in China

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State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) under the State Council of the People's Republic of China dictates whether, when, and how a movie gets released in Mainland China according to the executive authority granted to it by the 2002 Regulations on the Administration of Movies.[1] 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 from a legislative point of view. The law became effective on March 1, 2017.[2][3] Although the country lacks of an equivalent like 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:[4]

  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 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.

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.[5][6][7]

List of films

Title Original release date Original runtime Runtime in China Notes
Titanic Apr 3, 1998 195 minutes[8] 194 minutes[9] 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.[10]
The Matrix Reloaded July 18, 2003 138 minutes[11] 138 minutes[12] The movie is censored, but details unknown.[13]
Resident Evil: Afterlife November 16, 2010 97 minutes[14] 97 minutes[15] The movie is censored, but details unknown.[13]
Titanic 3D April 10, 2012 195 minutes[16] 194 minutes[9] The film is again altered to remove Rose's breasts from the scene in which she poses nude for a painting.[10] 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".[17]
Prometheus September 2, 2012 125 minutes[18] 122 minutes[19]
Cloud Atlas January 31, 2013 172 minutes[20] 134 minutes[21] Lost 38 minutes.[22]
Resident Evil: Retribution March 17, 2013 96 minutes[23] 96 minutes[24] The movie is censored, but details unknown.[13]
Iron Man 3 May 1, 2013 130 minutes[25] 134 minutes[26] Four more minutes of Chinese scenes were added to the local version for "an easier ride with Chinese film censors."[27] They include a product placement from Mengniu Dairy, claiming the milk is good for Iron Man, whose health then later on depends on Chinese medical experts, in order to "court Chinese censors."[28]
Django Unchained May 12, 2013 166 minutes[29] 163 minutes[30] Scenes of violence.[31]
American Hustle July 4, 2014 138 minutes[32] 103 minutes[22]
Fury November 21, 2014 134 minutes[33] 132 minutes[34] The movie is censored, but details unknown.[13]
Kingsman: The Secret Service March 27, 2015 129 minutes[35] 125 minutes[36] Scenes were cut due to violent and sexual content.[37]
Rush December 11, 2015 123 minutes[38][39] 121 minutes[40] The movie is censored, but details unknown.[13]
The Revenant March 18, 2016 156 minutes[41] 156 minutes[42] Thirty seconds are rumored to have been cut.[43]
Allied November 30, 2016 124 minutes[44] 124 minutes[45] The movie is censored, but details unknown.[13]
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children December 2, 2016 127 minutes[46] 126 minutes[47] A scene in which the characters enjoy an "eyeball feast" was cut.[47]
Hacksaw Ridge December 8, 2016 139 minutes[48] 139 minutes[49] Fewer than thirty seconds were cut.[49]
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter February 24, 2017 106 minutes[50] 99 minutes[51]
Logan March 3, 2017 137 minutes[52] 123 minutes[53] 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.[53]
Love Off the Cuff April 28, 2017 120 minutes[54] 117 minutes[55] crude jokes.[56]
Dangal May 5, 2017 169 minutes[22] 140 minutes[57] It was reported that the cuts were not forced on them by censors but were made by star Aamir Khan to make the film more gripping for Chinese audiences, but subsequently, the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT bans the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.
The Lost City of Z June 2, 2017 141 minutes[58] 104 minutes[22] It was reported that unnamed sources claimed the cuts were made by the film’s producers, and not by SAPPRFT, but same as Dangal, subsequently, the June 2017 notice from SAPPRFT bans the spread of so-called complete or uncut version.
Alien: Covenant June 6, 2017 122 minutes[59] 116 minutes[60] All scenes in 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.[60]
The Mummy June 9, 2017 107 minutes[61] 106 minutes[62]

References

  1. ^ "Regulations on the Administration of Movies". Lawinfochina.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  2. ^ "China introduces film industry law". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. ^ Zhang, Laney. "China: First Law on Film Industry Effective in March". Library of Congress. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Film Industry Promotion Law 2016". Chinalawtranslate.com. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  5. ^ "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. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Miller, Matthew (June 3, 2017). "China's broadcast regulator, tightening control of content, promotes 'core socialist values'". Reuters. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  7. ^ Feng, Jiayuan. "Regulator tries to tame online video, again – China's latest society and culture news". Supchina.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Titanic". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Titanic in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ a b Brzeski, Patrick (Apr 12, 2012). "Chinese 'Titanic' Fans Balk at Cuts to Rerelease". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. ^ "The Matrix Reloaded". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved Jun 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  12. ^ "The Matrix Reloaded in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ a b c d e f Papish, Jonathan (March 8, 2017). "R-Rated Films in China". China Film Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  14. ^ "Resident Evil: Afterlife". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  15. ^ "Resident Evil: Afterlife". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  16. ^ "Titanic (3D)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  17. ^ Anderson, Chris (Apr 13, 2012). "China Censors Kate Winslet's 'Titanic 3D' Breasts". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  18. ^ "Prometheus at an AMC Theatre near you". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  19. ^ "Prometheus in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  20. ^ "Cloud Atlas". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  21. ^ "Cloud Atlas in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  22. ^ a b c d Ryan, Fergus. "'Lost City of Z' Trims Runtime to Take on 'Wonder Woman'". China Film Insider. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Resident Evil: Retribution". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  24. ^ "Resident Evil: Retribution in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  25. ^ "Iron Man 3 at an AMC Theatre near you". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  26. ^ "Iron Man 3 in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  27. ^ Daniel, James (May 17, 2013). "Iron Man 3 execs 'changed film for Chinese audience' by adding four minutes to the film with Chinese actors". Daily Mail. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  28. ^ Wan, William (May 6, 2013). "'Iron Man 3' is latest Hollywood movie to court Chinese censors". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  29. ^ "Django Unchained at an AMC Theatre near you". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  30. ^ "Django Unchained in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  31. ^ Child, Ben (May 14, 2013). "Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, slashed, sees weak Chinese opening". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  32. ^ "American Hustle". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  33. ^ "Fury". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  34. ^ "Fury in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  35. ^ "Kingsman: The Secret Service". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  36. ^ "Kingsman: The Secret Service in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  37. ^ Coonan, Clifford (March 30, 2015). "China Box Office: Colin Firth's Charm Helps 'Kingsman' to Regal Performance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  38. ^ "Rush (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  39. ^ "Rush". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  40. ^ "Rush in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  41. ^ "The Revenant". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  42. ^ Papish, Jonathan (March 17, 2016). "On Screen China: Behind 'The Revenant's Fast Trip to Chinese Screens". China Film Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  43. ^ Papish, Jonathan (March 17, 2016). "On Screen China: Behind 'The Revenant's Fast Trip to Chinese Screens". China Film Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  44. ^ "Allied at an AMC Theatre near you". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  45. ^ "Allied in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  46. ^ "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  47. ^ a b Schwankert, Steven (December 1, 2016). "Tim Burton's 'Peculiar Children' Makes Cut for China Market". China Film Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  48. ^ "Hacksaw Ridge Runtime". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  49. ^ a b Ryan, Fergus (December 13, 2016). "'Hacksaw Ridge' Gives Itself 12+ Age Rating for China". China Film Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  50. ^ "Resident Evil Final Chapter". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  51. ^ Ryan, Fergus (February 16, 2017). "China Censors Slash Resident Evil Final Chapter". China Film Insider. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  52. ^ "Logan". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  53. ^ a b Ryan, Fergus (March 1, 2017). "'Logan' Becomes First Film In China Affected By New Law". China Film Insider. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  54. ^ "Love Off the Cuff United States Runtime". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  55. ^ "Love Off the Cuff China Edition". Douban.com. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  56. ^ Jifan, Wang. "Four minutes shorter than the HK version. What's gone?". HK01.com. HK01 Media. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  57. ^ "Dangal China Edition". Douban.com. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  58. ^ "The Lost City of Z (2017)". AMC Theatres. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  59. ^ "Alien: Covenant". AMC Theatres. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  60. ^ a b Liu, Charles. "China Censored Version of 'Alien: Covenant' Has Next to No Alien in It". China Film Insider. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  61. ^ "The Mummy 2017". AMCTheatres.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  62. ^ "The Mummy in China". Douban.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
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