'Crazy Rich Asians' fails to create an impact in China after a delayed release

Crazy Rich Asians may have created Box Office history in America, but closer home in China, the film has failed to impress the audience. 
One of the first films in Hollywood to have had an all Asian cast, 'Crazy Rich Asians' smashed box office records in America when it released a few weeks earlier. 

According to reports, the film grossed $1.2 million at the box office in China during the opening weekend after releasing on 30th November, which is nothing compared to a whopping $25 million that it grossed during its August premiere in the US. Read the film's review 

The film so far has earned $240 million globally.

Owing to the poor response, several Chinese exhibitors decided to slash the number of screens for the movie on Monday. 

Based on the novel by the same name by Kevin Kwan, 'Crazy Rich Asians' stars Constance Wu and Henry Golding in a love story about a Chinese-American woman whose relationship with her Chinese-Singaporean boyfriend is jeopardised by his family’s insane wealth.

The film made heads turn as it was the first film to have an all -Asian cast- which fit well at a time when Hollywood is trying to have a more inclusive environment. But while the unique casting helped in gaining numbers at the American box office, it was not so much a novelty in China. 

One of the biggest markets for Hollywood films, China took time to clear the film. The film talks of opulence and wealth- something that clashes with the ideologies of the current Communist government in China. 

The government also heavily restricts news and entertainment. Only about 30 foreign films are allowed to be screened every year, often parts of these films are released with certain censorship. 

The story of 'Crazy Rich Asians' is based in Singapore, where the film opened a week after US release and got a good response at the box office.