The sci-fi comedy, featuring Adam Sandler and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment, has removed a scene from its final version which showed aliens attacking iconic sites like the Taj Mahal, the Washington Monument, and parts of Manhattan. The Great Wall was spared in order to secure approval for release in China, as revealed in internal Sony Pictures emails. Other changes were made to avoid any content that could be seen as portraying China negatively, including removing a scene that implicated China in an attack and references to a Communist-conspiracy. These alterations were made to improve the chances of the movie, "Pixels," gaining access to China's lucrative box office. In a December 2013 email to senior Sony executives, Li Chow, chief representative of Sony Pictures in China, advised against breaking a hole in the Great Wall, stating that it would not benefit the China release. This message, along with tens of thousands of other confidential Sony emails and documents, was hacked and publicly released in late 2013. The US government attributed the breach to North Korea, and in April, WikiLeaks published the trove of emails, memos, and presentations from the Sony hack in an online archive. A representative from Sony Pictures, a division of Sony Corp. based in Tokyo, stated that they will not be making comments on leaked emails or internal conversations regarding specific decisions about content. They emphasized that many factors are considered when determining the best approach for a film's release, with the goal of creating content that appeals to a global audience while maintaining creative integrity as a top priority. Requests for comments from Chinese government and film-industry officials were unanswered. The leaked emails also revealed discussions among studio executives about adjusting content in other Sony movies, such as the 2014 remake of "RoboCop," to make them more acceptable to Chinese authorities. In one email from 2013 regarding "RoboCop," the senior vice president at Sony Pictures Releasing International at the time, Steve Bruno, suggested moving a fictional weapons company from China to a Southeast Asian country like Vietnam or Cambodia. In the end, the change was not implemented, as seen in the movie. Bruno has since left Sony. The emails from Sony reveal the extent to which the movie studio practiced self-censorship in anticipation of how Chinese authorities might react to their films. This demonstrates Hollywood's increasing reliance on the Chinese audience, as box office earnings in China rose significantly last year while declining in the US and Canada. Other studios have also made alterations to their movies to ensure they are approved for screening in China. A comparison of the Chinese and international versions of "Iron Man 3" reveals that a scene featuring a Chinese doctor was extended in the Chinese version and included popular Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. Despite being the second highest-grossing movie in China in 2013, Marvel Studios declined to comment. The logic of self-censorship is evident in the case of "Pixels," where Sony aimed to create a single, China-friendly version of the film. Sony's president, Steven O'Dell, suggested changing China elements to another country as a simple solution in an email about "RoboCop." Changing only the China version of the film would be a mistake, as it would draw attention from the press and bloggers who would notice the inconsistency. The US film industry's attempts to cater to the Chinese market come at a time when the country is cracking down on civil society. President Xi Jinping's government has detained numerous dissidents and human rights lawyers in recent years. China's efforts to restrict civil liberties domestically are now influencing global entertainment standards, as seen in the removal of scenes from "Pixels" deemed offensive to Beijing. This highlights how China's censorship is impacting audiences worldwide and challenging the freedoms that Hollywood has traditionally enjoyed. Peter Shiao, founder and CEO of Orb Media Group, noted that studios have become more astute in their decision-making when it comes to creating movies, especially global blockbusters, to ensure they are not rejected by the Chinese audience for social or political reasons. Sony's emails were hacked before the release of "The Interview," a film about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Following threats against movie theaters, Sony initially canceled the release, prompting US President Barack Obama to caution against self-censorship. However, Sony eventually released the movie after theater owners agreed to show 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 movies. He warned that this could lead to self-censorship in the face of documentaries or news reports that certain individuals dislike. Obama emphasized that America should not compromise its values or freedom of expression. The appeal of the Chinese box office has been growing rapidly for Hollywood studios, with box office receipts in China surpassing those in the United States and Canada. China is expected to set a new record for box office receipts in 2015, highlighting the increasing importance of the Chinese market for the film industry. By early June 2015, the action movie "Fast & Furious 7" had become the top-selling ticket in China, grossing $383 million, surpassing 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 had previously stated in November that the Chinese film market was on track to surpass the United States as the largest in the world within three years. This growing significance of the Chinese market was evident in the decisions made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc during the production of the 2012 remake of "Red Dawn," where the nationality of the invading soldiers was changed from Chinese to North Korean in post-production, according to producer Tripp Vinson. MGM did not provide any comments in response to inquiries. In China, in order for a movie to be shown, it must first receive approval from the Film Bureau, led by Zhang Hongsen, a senior Communist Party member. Zhang mentioned the pressure and challenges faced due to the influx of foreign films in China and emphasized the need to strengthen the Chinese film industry. The Film Bureau is a part of SAPPRFT, which is under the direct control of China's State Council. This administration oversees state-owned communication enterprises such as China Central Television and China Radio International, and censorship rules are outlined in a 2001 State Council order. The directive prohibits content that poses a threat to China's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as content that damages national pride and disrupts social stability. It also prohibits content that goes against public morality and national traditions. Additionally, SAPPRFT guidelines include restrictions on material that criticizes the government and political figures. The guidelines have expanded to cover new areas such as decadence, fortune telling, hunting, and sexuality, as outlined in an email sent by Sanford Panitch to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton last November. Film studios must collaborate with China Film Group Corp, a government-owned company responsible for importing and distributing foreign films. China Film Group Corp also sometimes serves as an investor. Sony executives exchanged emails discussing a partnership where China Film Group Corp would fund 10 percent of the budget for "Pixels". The company is led by La Peikang, a member of the Communist Party and former deputy head of the Film Bureau. A maximum of 34 foreign films are permitted into China annually under a revenue-sharing system that allocates 25 percent of box office earnings to foreign studios. Fourteen of the movies must be in advanced formats like 3D or IMAX, as revealed in the Sony emails which show that the censorship process in China can be unpredictable. In early 2014, Sony was asked to remove a significant but disturbing scene from "RoboCop" for the Chinese audience. A January 28, 2014 email from Steven O'Dell, an international executive, stated that the censorship was causing issues for the film, particularly with regards to a crucial scene where the protagonist's true nature is revealed. The studio hoped to make minor edits to appease the censors. We are unsure about taking a firm stance on this issue due to the large amount of money involved. We are hopeful that we will not have to remove the scene. The political climate under President Xi might also be a factor, as indicated in one email. Sony China executive Li Chow expressed doubt about the government's flexibility and mentioned the conservative nature of the present government, which is reflected in the cuts to Robocop. The censorship board members appear uncertain, fearful, and overly cautious. In discussions about "Pixels," Sony executives are trying to figure out how to understand the sensitivities of the Chinese authorities. Li Chow recommended making changes to the script, such as removing the scene where a hole is smashed in the Great Wall, in a November 1, 2013 email. She suggested that it would be appropriate to depict widespread destruction on a global scale by showing recognizable historical sites being destroyed in different parts of the world. Additionally, she recommended changing a scene where the President of the United States, an ambassador, and the head of the CIA suspect China of an attack using unknown technology. In the final version of the movie, they speculate that Russia, Iran, or Google could be responsible. Li also mentioned that China should be mentioned alongside other superpowers but not in a negative light. She proposed removing a scene featuring the Great Wall, deeming it unnecessary. The executives also discussed moving a car chase scene involving Pac-Man from Tokyo to Shanghai to potentially improve the film's release in China. Li Chow recommended against the relocation of the Pac-Man action from Tokyo to Shanghai, citing concerns about potential destruction and sensitivity. She expressed uncertainty about whether it would be a problem, as the unwritten rule is that it is acceptable if there is no intention to destroy a specific building or street. Ultimately, all references to China in the movie were removed, a decision that was likely made in early 2014. "It appears that Doug will follow Li's advice and remove all references to China from Pixels, as mentioned by international executive O'Dell in an email about then-Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad. The consequences of not obtaining approval to release a film in China are also highlighted in the Sony emails. For example, a Sony marketing executive mentioned in February 2014 that "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS" would not be shown in China, resulting in a significant financial loss as Sony executives had anticipated earning $120 million globally from the movie but were unable to do so without approval from China." In a December 2013 email, Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony Pictures, emphasized the need to maximize revenue to achieve their goals. He urged everyone to brainstorm ideas on how to increase profits from the movie. Bruer also expressed doubts about the likelihood of "Captain Phillips" being approved by China's censors, citing the plot element where the US military rescues the ship's captain as a potential reason for Chinese officials to reject the film. He concluded that it was unlikely that China would ever approve the film for censorship. The US military's involvement in saving one citizen is a reason why China would not promote the idea, as they are not comfortable with the political tone of the film. Despite this, Beijing has shown approval for the movie "Pixels" and it will be released in China on September 15.