The movie industry, thought to have sunk in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, has been quickly revived by the American “double blockbuster” craze. Since the release of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” also known as “Barbenheimer,” in the U.S. on March 21, moviegoers have flocked to theaters around the world, infusing new vitality into the film industry in a long time. According to the movie box office aggregation site Box Office Mojo, as of the 16th (local time), “Barbie” raked in US$537.39 million (approximately ￦721.2 billion) in the United States alone and grossed over $1.2 billion (approximately ￦1.6 trillion) globally, including international earnings (US$1=￦1341). On this day, “Barbie” also broke the previous distribution company Warner Bros.’ record, surpassing the highest-grossing milestone previously held by “The Dark Knight.”
The black comedy filled with pink, “Barbie,” and the heavy-handed “Oppenheimer,” about the atomic bomb development, are completely different movies, yet they are simultaneously garnering popularity and attention worldwide. However, nearly a month after their release in the United States, there are still many countries where these films have not been able to reach theaters. By examining the various reasons for the movies being withheld, one can glean insights into the situations of different countries around the world.
In South Korea, “Barbie” is rated as suitable for ages 12 and above. However, many Middle Eastern countries that have adopted Islam as their state religion have mostly banned the screening of “Barbie.” On the 9th, Lebanon and Kuwait decided to prohibit the screening of “Barbie,” stating that it “promotes homosexuality and gender transformation, undermining the importance of family. It contradicts faith and moral values.” The Algerian government also issued a ban on screening this movie in major cities including the capital, Algiers, towards the end of last month, citing that it undermines morality.
“Barbie” does not depict scenes of homosexuality or gender transformation. However, the movie briefly features transgender models and LGBTQ+ actors in minor roles, along with characters that imply their sexual orientation. Some analyses suggest that what might have been bothersome is not the subtle portrayal of sexual identity in the film, but rather the way female characters seem to be challenging patriarchal Islamic culture.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, which was traditionally considered very conservative towards women, has surprised many with the success of “Barbie” since its release on the 10th. Professor In Nam-sik of the National Institute for Diplomatic Studies explained, “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been working to enhance the image of promoting women’s rights lately, and allowing “Barbie” to be screened freely can be seen as part of this broader context.”
Vietnam has blocked the screening of “Barbie” for an entirely different reason. In one brief scene of the movie, a world map displays China’s concept of the South China Sea, referred to as the “Nine-Dash Line,” unilaterally claimed by China as its territorial waters in the South China Sea. The Nine-Dash Line consists of nine broken lines drawn by China to encompass over 80% of the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Using an analogy, it’s like labeling the “East Sea” as the “Sea of Japan” in South Korea. Therefore, these countries have taken offense. The Philippines, which also faces similar disputes, allowed the film to be screened under the condition that the map scene be blurred to obscure the contentious area.
“Oppenheimer” has been released only in South Korea among the three East Asian countries. In Japan, where its people have suffered the atomic bomb attacks in 1945, the film is such a sensitive issue that even the release date has not been decided yet.
In China, ‘Oppenheimer’ is scheduled to be released around 40 days after the US release, on the 30th of this month. The reason for the delay is “strict censorship.” Fans of the film are concerned about how Chinese censorship authorities will sort through the communist controversy surrounding the main character, Dr. Robert Oppenheimer. The presence of explicit scenes is also a major concern in China. According to Chinese media, “Oppenheimer” is said to have many of its provocative scenes either covered or blurred. However, the portrayal of Oppenheimer as a pro-communist who developed the atomic bomb that was dropped on aggressor Japan is viewed positively and will not be cut. “It’s unpleasant to think of watching a movie with rags covering the screen, but at least the movie hasn’t been shortened,” said Wei Mo, a 35-year-old bank employee in Beijing.
China’s reputation for “excessive censorship” is notorious. “Mad Max: Fury Road” was banned for depicting a state of anarchy, and “Men in Black 3″ had scenes of aliens disguised as Chinese removed. The animated film “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” released last year, faced issues due to its glorification of crime. To address this, a somewhat illogical scene was added to the Chinese version, depicting the villain being sentenced to 20 years in prison after being caught by the police, for the film to be approved for release.
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