The scene featuring the destruction of the Great Wall has been removed from the final version of the sci-fi comedy movie, which stars Adam Sandler and was released by Sony Pictures Entertainment in the United States this week. Instead, the aliens now target iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal in India, the Washington Monument, and parts of Manhattan. Sony executives made the decision to spare the Great Wall in order to ensure the movie could be approved for release in China, according to internal Sony Pictures emails. Other changes were also made to avoid any content that Chinese authorities might have interpreted as negative towards their country. These changes included removing a scene implicating China in an attack and a reference to a "Communist-conspiracy brother" hacking a mail server, all in an effort to increase the film's chances of success at the global box office. Li Chow, the chief representative of Sony Pictures in China, advised senior Sony executives in a December 2013 email that damaging the Great Wall, even as part of a global trend, would not benefit the release of a film in China. Therefore, Li recommended against it. This email, along with tens of thousands of other confidential Sony emails and documents, was hacked and made public in late 2013. The US government attributed the breach to North Korea. In April, WikiLeaks released the collection of emails, memos, and presentations from the Sony hack in an online searchable archive. A spokesperson for Sony Pictures, a division of Sony Corp based in Tokyo, stated that they would not be discussing stolen emails or internal conversations regarding specific content decisions. They emphasized that several factors are considered when determining the best approach for a film's release, with creating content that appeals globally while maintaining creative integrity being a top priority. Chinese government and film-industry officials did not provide comments for this story. The emails also revealed that Sony executives carefully analyzed the Chinese content in other movies, such as the 2014 remake of "RoboCop." In one email from 2013, a senior vice president suggested relocating a weapons conglomerate from China to a Southeast Asian country like Vietnam or Cambodia in order to make the film more appealing to Chinese authorities. Ultimately, it can be seen in the movie that the change was not made, despite Bruno leaving Sony. The leaked Sony emails reveal how the studio practiced self-censorship to anticipate Beijing's reactions to their films. This highlights Hollywood's growing reliance on the Chinese market, where box office earnings are increasing while declining in the US and Canada. Other studios have also altered their films to gain approval for screening in China. A comparison between the Chinese and international versions of "Iron Man 3" reveals that a scene featuring a Chinese doctor assisting the main character was extended in the Chinese version and included popular Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. "Iron Man 3," produced by Marvel Studios, was the second highest-grossing movie in China in 2013, although Marvel declined to comment on the changes made. In the case of "Pixels," the Sony emails indicate a decision to create a single version suitable for all audiences, including a China-friendly version. This decision was explained by Steven O'Dell, president of Sony Pictures Releasing International, in a September 12, 2013 email regarding "RoboCop," suggesting that changing elements to appease Chinese audiences was a simple adjustment. The suggestion is to change all versions of the film rather than just altering the China version to avoid potential backlash from the press. The US film industry's attempts to appeal to China are occurring amid a crackdown on civil society by the ruling Communist Party under President Xi Jinping. Recent events, such as the detention of human rights lawyers and dissidents, highlight China's efforts to restrict civil liberties both domestically and globally. The decision to remove scenes from "Pixels" deemed offensive to Beijing demonstrates how global audiences are being influenced by China's standards, which do not align with the freedoms that have historically supported Hollywood's success. Peter Shiao, founder and CEO of Orb Media Group, stated that film studios have become more astute in their decision-making, especially when it comes to producing global blockbusters with Hollywood-Chinese collaborations. He mentioned that studios are now aware of the importance of not creating content that the Chinese audience may object to for social or political reasons. This became evident when Sony's emails were hacked prior to the release of "The Interview," a film about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Despite threats against movie theaters, Sony initially halted the film's release, prompting US President Barack Obama to caution against self-censorship. However, Sony eventually released the movie, with a spokesman stating that the theatrical release was cancelled because theater owners refused to screen it. During his year-end White House press briefing, Obama expressed concerns about the potential consequences of allowing intimidation to prevent the release of satirical films. He warned that if this trend continues, it could lead to self-censorship in the film industry, which goes against the principles of freedom of expression. Hollywood studios are increasingly drawn to the lucrative Chinese box office market, as evidenced by the significant growth in box office receipts in China compared to the United States and Canada. This trend raises questions about the impact on the content and creative freedom of filmmakers. By early June 2015, the action movie "Fast & Furious 7" was the top-grossing film in China, making $383 million, which was more than the combined earnings of $351 million in the United States and Canada. This success was followed by "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Jurassic World." The vice president of the China Film Producers' Association, Wang Fenglin, predicted in November that the Chinese film market would surpass the United States to become the largest in the world within three years. This growing importance of the Chinese market influenced decisions made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc during the production of the 2012 remake of the action movie "Red Dawn." The studio changed the nationality of the invading soldiers from Chinese to North Korean in post-production, as confirmed by Red Dawn producer Tripp Vinson. Requests for comment from MGM went unanswered. In China, in order for a movie to be shown, it must first be approved by the Film Bureau, led by Zhang Hongsen, a Communist Party member. Zhang has expressed the need for the Chinese film industry to grow in order to compete with foreign films. The Film Bureau is part of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), which is overseen by China's State Council. This administration also controls state-owned communication enterprises such as China Central Television and China Radio International. Censorship rules are outlined in a 2001 order from the State Council. The directive prohibits content that jeopardizes China's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as any material that damages national pride and disrupts social stability. It is also forbidden to harm public morality and national customs. The guidelines from SAPPRFT also prohibit content that is critical of the government and political figures. The expansion of these guidelines was evident in an email from Sanford Panitch to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton, outlining new measures being enforced by SAPPRFT officials, including addressing previously unspecified areas such as decadence, fortune telling, hunting, and sexuality. Studios must collaborate with China Film Group Corp, a government-owned company that imports and distributes foreign films and sometimes invests in them. Sony executives discussed a co-financing deal in which China Film would fund 10 percent of the budget for "Pixels". China Film is led by La Peikang, a Communist Party member and former deputy head of the Film Bureau. There is a lot at stake financially, as only 34 foreign films are permitted in China each year under a revenue-sharing system that gives 25 percent of box office earnings to foreign studios. Fourteen of the films must be in advanced formats like 3D or IMAX, as shown in the Sony emails. In early 2014, the studio faced censorship demands in China, including a request to remove a crucial scene from "RoboCop," a film about a cyborg police officer. The censorship process in China can be uncertain, as evidenced by the struggles faced by the studio. We are unsure about taking a definitive stance due to the significant amount of money involved, hoping that we will not need to remove the scene. The political environment under President Xi might also be a factor, as indicated in one email. Sony China executive Li Chow expressed skepticism about the government's willingness to be more flexible in early 2014, citing the conservative nature of the current administration and the increased censorship of films like Robocop. The executives at Sony discuss the challenges of understanding the sensitivities of Chinese authorities in relation to the movie "Pixels," with Li Chow proposing changes to the script, such as removing the scene involving damage to the Great Wall. She suggested that it would be good to show recognizable historical sites around the world being destroyed on a large scale, rather than focusing solely on one country. Additionally, she recommended changing a scene in which the President of the United States, an ambassador, and the head of the CIA speculate about who could be behind the attack. In the final version, they consider Russia, Iran, or Google as possible suspects instead of China. Li also mentioned that China should be mentioned alongside other superpowers but in a more respectful way. Li also proposed removing a scene involving the Great Wall, deeming it unnecessary. Sony executives also discussed relocating a car-chase scene involving Pac-Man from Tokyo to Shanghai to potentially improve the film's reception in China. Li Chow strongly advised against changing the location of the Pac-Man action from Tokyo to Shanghai due to concerns about potential destruction and sensitivity. She expressed uncertainty about whether it would be a problem, as long as there was no real intention to destroy specific buildings or streets. The decision to remove all references to China from the movie was ultimately made in early 2014. "It appears that Doug is going to follow Li's suggestion and remove all references to China from Pixels (including excluding the Great Wall as a set piece)," stated international executive O'Dell in reference to then-Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad. The consequences of not receiving approval to release a film in China are evident in the Sony emails. In one email from February 2014, a Sony marketing executive informed that "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS will not be released theatrically in China," referring to the movie starring Tom Hanks as Captain Richard Phillips, who was held captive by Somali pirates in 2009. The emails also detail budget discussions for "Captain Phillips," revealing that Sony executives had initially projected earning $120 million globally from the film, but those plans changed when China did not approve its release. Notes from a conference call mentioned, "We are short $9M and we won't be getting into China." It is essential for us to maximize our revenue in order to achieve our goals. It is the responsibility of all of us to come up with ways to increase the financial gain from this movie. In a December 2013 email, Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony Pictures, speculated that China's censors were unlikely to approve the movie "Captain Phillips." The film depicts the US military rescuing the ship's captain, a plot element that Bruer believed might make Chinese officials uncomfortable. Bruer stated that it is highly unlikely that China will ever approve the film for censorship. The US military's large presence is the reason for saving a citizen in the film, something China would not do or support. Additionally, the political tone of the film would not align with China's beliefs. However, Beijing seems fine with the film "Pixels", as it has been approved for release in China and will open on September 15.