The Impact of China's Selective Distribution System on Hollywood's Entry into the Chinese Market
Research Article
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The Impact of China's Selective Distribution System on Hollywood's Entry into the Chinese Market

Yu Liang 1* Xiaoyu Ding 2
1 Sichuan International Studies University
2 Nanjing Language School Foreign
*Corresponding author: 3502941441@qq.com
Published on 9 September 2025
Journal Cover
AEMPS Vol.213
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-351-2
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-352-9
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Abstract

October 26, 2023, at the 24th National Film Promotion and the First National Film Exhibition, 24 films were officially signed for online distribution. China's online film distribution model officially kicked off, adhering to the principle of "one-time release, one-time screening," exploring a new market-oriented, flexible negotiation transaction form. Market-oriented Selective Distribution helps to revitalize cinemas, boost the confidence of creators and investors, and enrich the content of local films, making them more diverse in subject matter.Since 2012, the acceleration of Hollywood movies has boosted domestic film spending, and the rapidly expanding Chinese market has become a driving force for Hollywood movies.Between 2012 and 2017, Chinese box office sales rose from 17 billion yuan to 55.9 billion yuan, and the number of imported movies grew from 8.8 billion yuan to 25.8 billion yuan, according to the National Film Bureau.In 2019, Chinese box office rose to 64.2 billion yuan, but the number of imported movies remained at around 23 billion yuan. That is to say, Hollywood films, as the world's largest source of foreign movies, have ceased to grow in the Chinese market. By 2021, Hollywood movies' box office in China has fallen to $900 million, and their market share has fallen from more than 30 percent to 12.3 percent.This indicates that Hollywood movies have been losing market share in China. The best way to overcome this dilemma is to understand the latest Chinese movie policies and to make targeted changes.

Keywords:

Hollywood Films, Selective Distribution, Differentiation.

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Liang,Y.;Ding,X. (2025). The Impact of China's Selective Distribution System on Hollywood's Entry into the Chinese Market. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,213,29-35.

References

[1]. Jin Lina. "Film Selective Distribution in China: Phenomenon, Principles, and Strategies." China Film Market, 2024, (07): 4-9.

[2]. Zhong Weihan. "Empowering the Diversified Development of the Film Market with Selective Distribution." China Film Market, 2024, (07): 10-13.

[3]. Sun Yanbin. "System and Construction: A Study of International Experience in Film Selective Distribution." Film Literature, 2024, (07): 9-17.

[4]. Liu Fan. "Viewing Selective Distribution from the Perspective of Complex Ecosystem Theory." Contemporary Film, 2024, (03): 11-15.

[5]. Qi Hai. "Differentiated Distribution Promotes 'Niche' Films to Achieve Box Office Success." China Film News, 2024-07-03(006). DOI: 10.28064/n.cnki.ncdyb.2024.000779.

[6]. Sun Yanbin. "System and Construction: A Study of International Experience in Film Selective Distribution." Film Literature, 2024, (07): 9-17.

[7]. China Film Market Report in June 2024 [J].China Film Market, 2024, (08): 54-61.

[8]. Wu Jianxun. Research on film distribution from the perspective of Chinese film school [J].Film Literature, 2024, (06): 3-9.)

[9]. Li Jialei. Cultivating differentiated distribution and boosting industrial vitality [N].China Film News, 2024-06-26(004). DOI: 10.28064/n.cnki.ncdyb.2024.000742.

[10]. Yin Yiyi. Platform Distribution and Cultural Community: Practical Experience of Differentiated Film Distribution in United States [J].Contemporary Film, 2024, (03): 23-30.)

[11]. Zhang Jingchao. The undercurrent of the interest game of "early adopter" distribution in the film market [N].China Business Daily, 2023-12-18(A04). DOI: 10.38300/n.cnki.nzgjy.2023.002828.

[12]. Zhang Gang. Tianjin Daily, 2023-12-13(011). DOI: 10.28789/n.cnki.ntjrb.2023.004163.

[13]. Zhang Xiaohan. Split line distribution opens a new chapter in the film industry [N].Jinan Daily, 2023-11-28(005). DOI: 10.28453/n.cnki.njnrb.2023.004920.

[14]. Zhu Zikun. Analysis of the problems of China's film distribution industry [J].Popular Literature and Art, 2023, (22): 94-96.DOI: 10.20112/j.cnki.ISSN1007-5828.2023.22.031.

[15]. Liu Yang. Film market, start sub-line distribution [N].People's Daily, 2023-11-08(011). DOI: 10.28655/n.cnki.nrmrb.2023.010962.

References

[1]. Jin Lina. "Film Selective Distribution in China: Phenomenon, Principles, and Strategies." China Film Market, 2024, (07): 4-9.

[2]. Zhong Weihan. "Empowering the Diversified Development of the Film Market with Selective Distribution." China Film Market, 2024, (07): 10-13.

[3]. Sun Yanbin. "System and Construction: A Study of International Experience in Film Selective Distribution." Film Literature, 2024, (07): 9-17.

[4]. Liu Fan. "Viewing Selective Distribution from the Perspective of Complex Ecosystem Theory." Contemporary Film, 2024, (03): 11-15.

[5]. Qi Hai. "Differentiated Distribution Promotes 'Niche' Films to Achieve Box Office Success." China Film News, 2024-07-03(006). DOI: 10.28064/n.cnki.ncdyb.2024.000779.

[6]. Sun Yanbin. "System and Construction: A Study of International Experience in Film Selective Distribution." Film Literature, 2024, (07): 9-17.

[7]. China Film Market Report in June 2024 [J].China Film Market, 2024, (08): 54-61.

[8]. Wu Jianxun. Research on film distribution from the perspective of Chinese film school [J].Film Literature, 2024, (06): 3-9.)

[9]. Li Jialei. Cultivating differentiated distribution and boosting industrial vitality [N].China Film News, 2024-06-26(004). DOI: 10.28064/n.cnki.ncdyb.2024.000742.

[10]. Yin Yiyi. Platform Distribution and Cultural Community: Practical Experience of Differentiated Film Distribution in United States [J].Contemporary Film, 2024, (03): 23-30.)

[11]. Zhang Jingchao. The undercurrent of the interest game of "early adopter" distribution in the film market [N].China Business Daily, 2023-12-18(A04). DOI: 10.38300/n.cnki.nzgjy.2023.002828.

[12]. Zhang Gang. Tianjin Daily, 2023-12-13(011). DOI: 10.28789/n.cnki.ntjrb.2023.004163.

[13]. Zhang Xiaohan. Split line distribution opens a new chapter in the film industry [N].Jinan Daily, 2023-11-28(005). DOI: 10.28453/n.cnki.njnrb.2023.004920.

[14]. Zhu Zikun. Analysis of the problems of China's film distribution industry [J].Popular Literature and Art, 2023, (22): 94-96.DOI: 10.20112/j.cnki.ISSN1007-5828.2023.22.031.

[15]. Liu Yang. Film market, start sub-line distribution [N].People's Daily, 2023-11-08(011). DOI: 10.28655/n.cnki.nrmrb.2023.010962.

Cite this article

Liang,Y.;Ding,X. (2025). The Impact of China's Selective Distribution System on Hollywood's Entry into the Chinese Market. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,213,29-35.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Financial Technology and Business Analysis

ISBN: 978-1-80590-351-2(Print) / 978-1-80590-352-9(Online)
Editor: Lukáš Vartiak
Conference website: https://2025.icftba.org/
Conference date: 12 December 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.213
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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