Disney's classic 'Mulan' flopped in China because audiences didn't think the heroine looked Chinese enough.

Why wasn t Mulan popular in China?

Why was the animated Mulan movie not well received in China? - Quora. It was a combination of factors, which can be summed up to three points: collateral damage for Kundun, the limited release, and the foreign-looking story.

Why did the Mulan movie flopped?

Even though Disney spent a lot of effort to fit the Chinese market, the reason why Mulan failed in the Chinese market is due to the stereotype and misunderstanding of the traditional Chinese culture, make-up, costumes and sceneries, and characteristics, which ultimately caused the movie to become nondescript.

Why was Mulan 3 cancelled?

Unfortunately for fans of this princess, Mulan II did terribly. Critics regarded the film as a huge disrespect to the original Mulan. This discouraged Disney from pursuing her story any further, so Mulan III was shelved and Ana Ming never made it anywhere.

Why was there controversy with Mulan?

The film also drew ire for filming in Xinjiang, a region of China where Uighur Muslims have been detained in mass internment camps. The film has also been accused of being too white behind the camera.

Mulan Flops in China

Did Disney apologize for Mulan?

Disney has not issued a formal statement or apology on the matter, and has told creatives involved in “Mulan” to steer clear of the subject.

Why did Mulan get bad reviews?

The cinematography is great and the colors are often vibrant, but the story is pretty dull. The lead actress is awfully bland as well. The action and music are standouts, but get bogged down by some pacing issues. My biggest issue with this film though is Mulan herself.

Was Mulan's movie a flop?

The film reportedly grossed between $60 million and $90 million in the United States within the first 12 days of its online release, paling in comparison to its budget. In China, the film took in $23.2 million on its opening weekend, with a sharp 72% decline the following weekend, according to Yahoo Entertainment.

Did Mulan live-action lose money?

The film had a traditional theatrical release in countries without Disney+ where theaters had re-opened. Due to its overall limited theatrical release as a result of the pandemic, the film grossed $69.9 million at the box office against a production budget of $200 million.

Was Mulan based on a true story?

Scholarly consensus is that Mulan is a fictional character, probably developed in Northern China in response to the greater independence women enjoyed there, whose legend was then revised in succeeding eras to reflect the values and challenges of the times.

Is Mulan allowed in China?

China, where Disney+ is not available, is one of the few significant markets where “Mulan” will screen in movie theaters. The company has long considered China a key market.

Did Mulan live-action do well in China?

The film's mainland China debut was considered a failure not just because it missed analysts' expectations, but also because Disney had poured five years and $200 million into the film, in part, to ensure it appealed to a Chinese audience.

Was Mulan 2 a flop?

Though Mulan II was a flop, it was natural for Mushu to stay with the voice actor who had expanded his character into all future Disney media properties.

Did China like the new Mulan movie?

Chinese critics, both at home and abroad, said they were disappointed with the film's inaccurate and stereotypical portrayals of Chinese history and the main character, infused with nationalist tropes. Others were not as bothered.

What is the Disney China controversy?

The poor performance of Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Chinese box office has reopened questions on Hollywood's increasing difficulties in the world's second-largest economy and the role racism has played in the film's reception.

Is Mulan 1998 culturally accurate?

Although the whole film told a Chinese story, it actually still showed huge differences between the film and genuine Chinese ancient culture. First, in the film, there are several Chinese elements misunderstood.

What is Disney's least successful movie?

What was Disney's biggest movie flop?

What movie lost the most money?

As of February 2024, the four biggest movie flops of all time were Disney productions. "Turning Red" (2022), "Jungle Cruise" (2021), "Mars Needs Moms" (2011), and "Mulan" (2020) recorded losses of more than 140 million U.S. dollars at the global box office.

Has Disney ever made a movie that flopped?

Disney released the ambitious sci-fi flick Meet the Robinsons in 2007, with the movie boasting a reported budget of $150 million (£77m). Despite garnering positive reviews and technically turning a small profit of $19 million (£9m) against its production cost, the film is still considered a major flop.

Which Mulan movie is more accurate?

Starting with the positives, Disney's attempt at portraying Chinese culture greatly improved from the original 1998 film. While the basic premise of the animated version is the same, Disney updated many important details that make the live-action more historically accurate and true to the original Ballad of Mulan.

What is Mulan's weakness?

Mulan's Character

In the animated film, Mulan's greatest weakness is entirely physical: she simply does not have the capability to do things like carry two bags of who knows what on a hike which leads to Shang kicking her out of the army.

What is the new Mulan controversy?

The issue was that Mulan was partially filmed in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, in close proximity to detention camps for Uighur Muslims, and Disney gave credit to “publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomy Region Committee” among other entities.

What is the meaning of Chi in Mulan?

RELATED: Mulan: The Actual Legend Behind Disney's Warrior Princess, Explained. Mulan presents chi as a mystical energy that males are pre-dispositioned to possess. Chi can be used by warriors to augment their physical abilities. For whatever reason, Mulan possesses an extraordinary amount of chi.

How does Mulan show Chinese culture?

On the basis of drawing materials from Chinese historical stories and retaining traditional Chinese ideas and images, the Disney movie Mulan adopts a series of Hollywood story blending methods to make American-style transformation of characters and values, according to the sight of Americans the standard of Chinese ...