Hollywood Blockbusters Look to Chinese Culture

A Chinese-style poster from the film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald [Photo/Mtime]

An increasing number of Hollywood producers have in recent years released film posters for Chinese audiences, demonstrating their attention to the country’s film market.

The film posters are typically drawn in a traditional Chinese style, incorporating Chinese cultural features and highlighting Chinese landscape paintings, cultural heritage, the Lunar Spring Festival, iconic skyscrapers and historic landmarks.

China's movie box office revenue increased nine percent in 2018 to 60.98 billion yuan ($8.88 billion), according to the State Film Administration.

The top-10 highest grossing films comprise a split of Chinese films and Hollywood blockbusters. Foreign films account for almost half of all movies in the Chinese market, but their earning power is not as strong as it once was.

"The Chinese film industry has gained momentum in recent years, and its box office performance is quite impressive. More and more foreign filmmakers have paid attention to the domestic market, and the combination of Chinese and Western elements in film publicity is a clever idea to attract viewers," said Zhang Chengguang, a Anhui Normal University professor.

Let 's take a look at film posters with Chinese characteristics and revealed and see how they use Chinese elements in their design.

A Chinese-style poster from the film  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse [Photo/Mtime]

Chinese paper cutting

The posters for animated superhero films Kung Fu Panda 3 and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse give us great examples of Chinese paper cutting, right in time for the Chinese Lunar Spring Festival.

Chinese paper cutting, or jianzhi, is a kind of folk art that uses scissors or knives to cut paper for decorations and other folk activities.

Paper-cutting artwork is always made with red paper, as red is associated with festivities and happiness in Chinese culture. It often features at festivals like Spring Festival, weddings and childbirth, and it symbolizes luck and happiness.

A Chinese-style poster from the film Kung Fu Panda 3 [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film The Predator [Photo/Mtime]

Four classic Chinese novels

The Water Margin, Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Dream of the Red Chamber: four novels that form the core of Chinese classical literature and still inform modern culture.

As with the works of Dante or Shakespeare in Europe, these books are touchstones in Chinese literary culture, and are never-ending resources for Chinese film and TV adaptations and recreations.

Kung fu masters appear regularly in these novels, which have influenced a number of western superhero films and their promotional posters.

A Chinese-style poster from the film The Predator [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film Venom [Photo/Mtime]

Chinese landscape painting

Many critics consider landscape painting to be the highest form of Chinese art, and it is the most popular form to display Chinese culture to the west.

Many western filmmakers therefore choose to launch film posters set against the backdrop of Chinese landscape painting, capturing a sense of elegance and oriental beauty.

Chinese landscape painting, or shanshui, literally refers to a style of traditional Chinese painting that involves or depicts scenery or natural landscapes, using brushes and ink rather than more conventional paints. Mountains, rivers and waterfalls feature regularly in this art form.

A Chinese-style poster from the film Paddington 2 [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film Paddington 2 [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film Maze Runner: The Death Cure [Photo/Mtime]

Chinese traditional cultural heritage

As more and more Chinese young people show interest in their ancestors' customs and lifestyles, Chinese traditional art has enjoyed a renewal in the modern age.

The success of mega-hit period drama The Story of Yanxi Palace, the most Googled TV series in the world in 2018, has further thrust Chinese traditional cultural heritage into the spotlight.

Film producers have thus taken the opportunity to combine film promotion with Chinese cultural heritage, with one example being American dystopian science fiction film Maze Runner: The Death Cure.

A Chinese-style poster from the film Spider-Man: Homecoming [Photo/Mtime]

Chinese landmarks

Chinese landmarks continue to welcome more and more visitors. These landmarks, in a certain sense, represent the best of Chinese history and culture.

Spiderman has taken photos with iconic Chinese skyscrapers and at historic scenic spots – places known by almost everyone in China.

The posters will become a selling point for the film, with people perhaps wondering what's going on with Spiderman and famous Chinese landmarks, before buying their ticket.

A Chinese-style poster from the film Spider-Man: Homecoming [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film Spider-Man: Homecoming [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film Stand by Me Doraemon [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film Stand by Me Doraemon [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film The Shape of Water [Photo/Mtime]

A Chinese-style poster from the film My Neighbor Totoro [Photo/Mtime]