Despite doing everything it could to court Chinese audiences, Mulan opened in China to disappointing numbers.
After opening on Friday, Sept. 11 to $6.23 million in China, the live-action remake of the 1998 film closed out the weekend with a total of $23.2 million. According to Variety, this puts its global haul at $37.6 million after opening last weekend to $5.9 million from Croatia, Czech Republic, the Middle East, Slovakia, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. This does not include the money earned through Disney+, where it is available in the U.S., Canada and Europe for $30.
What was expected to be a sure hit for Disney — with the potential to reach $1 billion worldwide — has turned into a PR disaster for the House of Mouse. Aside from general anxieties surrounding COVID-19 and theater attendance, the film also came under fire for thanking the Communist Party of China (CPC), specifically the Publicity Department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Committee, in its credits. Many governments, international organizations and non-profits recognize that the Uyghur population of Xinjiang, or East Turkestan, is the target of widespread persecution and oppression under the Communist Party-ruled Chinese government. A significant portion of Mulan was filmed in this region.
In response to the controversy, the Chinese government ordered media outlets to abstain from covering the film. On the U.S. side, Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (MO) called for Disney to pull Mulan from Disney+ and donate profits to organizations dedicated to assisting the Uyghur population. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) also sent a letter to Disney CEO Robert Chapek, asking him to answer a series of questions related to the production of the film.
Directed by Niki Caro, with a screenplay by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin, Mulan was scheduled to premiere on March 27 of this year after its March 9 world premiere in Hollywood. However, the coronavirus pandemic squashed those plans, delaying the film to July and then August before finally settling on a September release on Disney+. The film will be shown in theaters in areas where Disney+ is not available.
The official synopsis for Mulan can be found below.
Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s "Mulan," in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.
Directed by Niki Caro, Disney's live-action Mulan stars Yifei Liu as Mulan, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan and Yoson An as Chen Honghui, with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. The film is now available through Premier Access on Disney+.