When you watch films or shows from Hollywood, it can feel like something’s missing: the portrayal of Chinese villains.
Though China is seen as a significant competitor to the United States, it’s surprisingly uncommon to encounter Chinese antagonists in contemporary narratives. Instead, we often see the same stereotypes—evil Russians, Islamic terrorists, cross-border criminals, or villains from smaller nations.
The explanation for this trend is straightforward. China represents a crucial market for Hollywood.
In 2019, estimates from Chinese film organizations and data firms like Entgroup indicated that Hollywood’s revenue reached around $11 billion domestically, with blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame and The Lion King leading the charge.
Those figures took a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic but gradually recovered to around $7.5 billion. Some updated numbers for 2022 and last year show a similar trend.
However, the pandemic isn’t the only issue affecting Hollywood’s income from China. There’s a growing local film industry, and the Chinese government has been fostering its development. Moreover, China’s expanding middle class seems to prefer local narratives over foreign ones.
Hollywood’s deference to China isn’t exactly inconspicuous.
A notable example occurred in October 2019 when the second episode of South Park’s 23rd season, titled “Chinese Band,” poked fun at this very issue. The episode depicted Chinese officials censoring a film set in real-time, presenting a humorous take on censorship abroad.
This episode was well-received in the U.S. but sparked outrage in China, leading to South Park being banned there.
While Hollywood tends to self-censor to appease Chinese interests, the Chinese film industry appears unencumbered in portraying Americans as villains. Films like “Establishment of the Republic,” “Great National Revival,” and “Cliff Walkers” depict Americans negatively.
In contemporary films like “Operation Red Sea,” Americans are often cast as terrorists, while pieces like “Sky Fire” showcase Westerners consumed by greed. These portrayals reflect China’s current worldview—something distinctly absent from Hollywood.
This inconsistency highlights the imbalance: while American entertainment is muzzled out of misplaced respect for China, Chinese films routinely criticize American figures. This inconsistency aligns with broader Chinese policies, such as banning major U.S. social media platforms while fuming at potential restrictions on TikTok in the U.S.
While it’s unfortunate that Chinese villains are absent from mainstream media, it’s not about relying on overt caricatures. Art should mirror reality. Big-budget films aren’t necessarily educational; they serve as platforms for society to comprehend its adversaries.
Take, for instance, the Bond film “From Russia with Love”—it contributed to a better understanding of the complexities surrounding the Soviet Union.
By sanitizing our entertainment out of misguided reverence for China, we risk becoming less informed about the challenges posed by that nation. This dynamic significantly enhances China’s influence in Hollywood.
Many Americans have a limited grasp of the long-standing rivalry with China, which is a departure from the Cold War era when Hollywood produced robust narratives around such struggles.
There’s plenty of captivating content buried in these dynamics. In recent years, China’s extensive campaigns of industrial espionage have been evident, notably in corporate security contexts.
China has engaged in high-stakes maneuvering against U.S. allies in the South China Sea and offered support to efforts targeting American military assets. Their assistance to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict and the establishment of illegal “police stations” in the U.S. that target dissenters are just parts of a rich tapestry that could serve Hollywood narratives effectively.
It’s worth mentioning that Hollywood insiders are beginning to realize their complicated relationship with China. John Schiffer, a former CIA official and now CEO of Spycraft Entertainment, highlighted this in a recent conversation.
“We’re often pushed to find alternative villains. It’s been tough to get anyone interested in exploring Chinese intelligence or paramilitary characters,” he remarked.
These producers are understandably concerned, not just about the potential backlash from Chinese officials but also regarding the substantial Chinese investments in content creation that they risk losing. Hollywood remembers the fallout from the 2014 hack by North Korea against Sony Pictures, triggered by the portrayal of their leadership in “The Interview.” The shadows from that incident linger, making studios wary of becoming targets for cyberattacks.
Yet, with trade tensions bubbling and recent Chinese announcements of reduced U.S. film imports, the question arises: will Hollywood daringly portray Chinese characters in the near future?
It seems unlikely, at least for now. While American negotiators work on tariffs, Hollywood may continue to hesitate in crafting nuanced stories about China.
The challenge remains—can Hollywood genuinely depict America as the good guy? Given the complexities of current U.S. foreign policy, especially regarding authoritarian regimes, it’s difficult to ascertain.
