Joker has exceeded all box office expectations for Warner Bros. as the gritty, R-rated film continues to do big business around the world but one especially lucrative foreign market is not expected to see a wide theatrical release for the film: China.
Because of the film's content depicting a particularly oppressive society, with corrupt authority figures and protesters violently clashing against local law enforcement, the film is not anticipated to be approved by the Chinese government for release. The content concerns have arisen as mass protests against the Chinese government continue in Hong Kong that have escalated since the summer. What's more, R-rated films in general tend to have a hard time getting the go-ahead in China.
Joker is only the latest high-profile Hollywood release not be slated for theatrical distribution in China, with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's planned opening abruptly canceled. The sudden cancellation is reportedly due to concerns over the film's controversial depiction of late actor Bruce Lee, with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino refusing to re-edit the film for Chinese audiences.
Even without the Chinese box office, Joker is on track to become the highest-earning R-rated film of all time, surpassing 2016's Deadpool, as it moves closer towards earning more than $800 million at the global box office.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais and Shea Whigham. The film is now in theaters.
(via Deadline)