Chinese cinema and Australian audiences: an exploratory study

Abstract

Since Wanda’s acquisition of Hoyts Group in 2015, and Australia’s signing of the Film Co-production Treaty with China in 2008, Chinese cinema has gained access to mainstream Australian cinemas more than ever before. To date, these films have struggled to cross over into the mainstream (that is, attract non-diasporic audiences). Drawing on film screenings of a selection of both Chinese and Chinese-foreign co-productions recently theatrically released in major cities in Australia, this article finds Chinese and Chinese-foreign co-produced cinema will likely continue to lack appeal among non-Chinese Australian audiences. Concerningly, exposure to contemporary Chinese cinema was found to negatively impact willingness to watch Chinese cinema again, and in some cases, worsen impressions of China and Chinese society.