The final version of the sci-fi comedy, featuring Adam Sandler and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment, no longer includes a scene where aliens attack iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal, the Washington Monument, and parts of Manhattan. The Great Wall was spared in order to secure approval for the movie's release in China. Sony executives made various changes to avoid any negative portrayal of China, including removing references to China as a potential attacker and a mention of a "Communist-conspiracy brother" hacking a mail server. These alterations were made to improve the chances of the movie's 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 not to break a hole in the Great Wall, as it would not benefit the release of a film in China. This email was one of many confidential Sony emails and documents that were hacked and released to the public in late 2014. The US government attributed the breach to North Korea. In April, WikiLeaks made the emails, memos, and presentations from the Sony hack available in an online searchable archive. A spokesperson for Sony Pictures, a division of Sony Corp. based in Tokyo, stated that they will not be commenting on stolen emails or internal discussions regarding specific content decisions. They emphasized that many factors are considered when determining the best way to release a film, with creating content that appeals to a global audience without compromising creative integrity being a top priority. Requests for comments from Chinese government and film-industry officials were unanswered. In addition to "Pixels," emails showed that Sony executives also carefully reviewed the China content in other films, such as the 2014 remake of "RoboCop." One email from 2013 revealed a suggestion to relocate a multinational weapons conglomerate from China to a Southeast Asian country like Vietnam or Cambodia in order to make the film more acceptable to Chinese authorities. In the end, the change was not implemented, as seen in the movie. Bruno has now left Sony. The leaked Sony emails reveal the extent to which the movie studio practiced self-censorship in anticipation of Beijing's reaction. This highlights Hollywood's growing reliance on the Chinese market, where box office revenue increased significantly last year, while revenue in the US and Canada decreased. Other studios have also made alterations to their films to ensure they are approved for screening in China. A comparison between the Chinese and international versions of "Iron Man 3" reveals that the Chinese version included a scene with a Chinese doctor played by popular actress Fan Bingbing. The movie, produced by Marvel Studios, was the second highest-grossing film in China in 2013, although Marvel declined to comment on the changes made for the Chinese audience. Sony's decision to create a China-friendly version of "Pixels" was influenced by the logic of self-censorship, as explained by Steven O'Dell in a 2013 email about "RoboCop." The suggestion is to change all versions of the film rather than just the China version to avoid backlash from the press and bloggers who may compare the different versions. The US motion-picture industry's attempts to appeal to China coincide with a crackdown on civil society by President Xi Jinping's Communist Party. This crackdown has resulted in the detention of human rights lawyers and dissidents. As China's influence grows, its restrictions on civil liberties are affecting global audiences, as seen in the removal of scenes from "Pixels" to avoid offending Beijing. This illustrates how China's censorship standards are impacting the global film industry. Peter Shiao, CEO of Orb Media Group, a film studio specializing in Hollywood-Chinese co-productions, believes that studios have become more cautious in making movies, especially global blockbusters, to avoid offending the Chinese audience for social or political reasons. He noted that Sony's decision to release "The Interview" despite controversy and threats of violence was a truism in the industry. During his year-end White House press briefing, Obama expressed concern about the potential consequences of allowing intimidation to prevent the release of a satirical movie. He warned that if this behavior is tolerated, it could lead to censorship of documentaries and news reports as well. Obama emphasized the importance of not engaging in self-censorship to avoid offending those who may need their sensibilities challenged. He stated that this goes against the values of America. Hollywood studios are increasingly drawn to the Chinese box office due to its rapid growth, with box office receipts in China surpassing those in the United States and Canada. China is on track to set a new record for box office receipts this year. By early June 2015, the action movie "Fast & Furious 7" had become the top ticket seller in China, grossing $383 million, surpassing the $351 million earned in the United States and Canada combined. Following closely were "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Jurassic World." The vice president of the China Film Producers' Association, Wang Fenglin, predicted last November that the Chinese film market would surpass the United States to become the world's largest in three years. This prediction has influenced decisions made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc, as seen in their 2012 remake of "Red Dawn," where the nationality of the invading soldiers was changed from Chinese to North Korean during post-production, according to producer Tripp Vinson. Requests for comment from MGM went unanswered. In order for a movie to be shown in China, it must first receive approval from the Film Bureau, led by Zhang Hongsen, a senior Communist Party member. Zhang has expressed the need for the Chinese film industry to grow and thrive in the face of increasing pressure from foreign films. The Film Bureau is a part of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), which is under the direct authority of China's State Council. The administration also oversees state-owned communication enterprises such as China Central Television and China Radio International. Censorship guidelines were established in a 2001 order from the State Council. The directive prohibits content that poses a threat to China's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as content that damages national honor and disrupts social stability. It also prohibits the promotion of public morality and national traditions. Additionally, SAPPRFT guidelines include bans on material that is critical of the government and political figures. These guidelines have expanded to cover new areas such as decadence, fortune telling, hunting, and sexuality, as outlined in an email sent by Sanford Panitch last November. Movie studios must collaborate with China Film Group Corp, a government-owned company that brings in and distributes international films. China Film Group Corp may also serve as an investor in some cases. Sony executives exchanged emails discussing a partnership where China Film Group Corp would finance 10 percent of the budget for "Pixels". The company is overseen by La Peikang, a member of the Communist Party and former deputy head of the Film Bureau. There is a strict limit of 34 foreign films allowed into China each year, operating under a revenue-sharing system where foreign studios receive 25 percent of box office earnings. According to the Sony emails, fourteen of the films must be in advanced formats like 3D or IMAX. The censorship process in China is seen as unpredictable. In early 2014, Sony was asked to remove a key scene from the movie "RoboCop" for Chinese audiences. An email from Steven O’Dell on January 28, 2014 expressed frustration with the censorship, stating that they were trying to keep the scene intact but may need to shorten it. The Sony executives are unsure about taking a stand on certain issues due to financial considerations, and they are worried about potential censorship in China under President Xi's government. Li Chow expressed doubts about the government's flexibility and noted that the censorship board members appear uncertain and overly cautious. The executives also discussed making changes to the script of "Pixels" to avoid offending Chinese authorities, including removing a scene where a hole is smashed in the Great Wall. She suggested that it would be better to show a large-scale global destruction with recognizable historical sites around the world being destroyed. She also recommended changing a scene where officials speculate that China could be responsible for an attack using unknown technology. Instead, in the final version, they speculate that Russia, Iran, or Google could be to blame. Li advised that China should be mentioned alongside other superpowers, but not in a negative light. She also suggested removing a scene involving the Great Wall, deeming it unnecessary. Additionally, Sony executives discussed moving a car-chase scene from Tokyo to Shanghai in order to potentially improve the film's release 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 in the city and the sensitivity it may cause. She expressed uncertainty about whether it would be a problem, as there is an unwritten rule that it is acceptable as long as there is no real intention to destroy certain buildings or streets. However, she questioned where the line would be drawn. Ultimately, all references to China in the movie were removed, a decision that was likely made in early 2014. International executive O'Dell mentioned that Doug Belgrad, the then-President of Columbia Pictures, was going to follow Li's advice and remove all references to China from the movie Pixels. This decision was made in order to secure approval for the movie to be distributed in China. The cost of not receiving approval to release a film in China was evident in Sony emails, as shown by the case of "Captain Phillips." Despite expecting to earn $120 million globally from the movie, Sony executives were $9 million short after the film was not approved for release in China. "We must make every effort to obtain as much money as possible to achieve our goals. It is the responsibility of all of us to find ways to increase revenue from this film." Sony Pictures' president of worldwide distribution, Rory Bruer, expressed doubts in a December 2013 email that "Captain Phillips" would pass China's censorship. He pointed out that the film's plot involving the US military rescuing the captain could make Chinese officials uncomfortable. Bruer speculated that China would likely not approve the film for release. The US military's large presence is a key factor in the rescue of a US citizen, something China would not do or support. Additionally, the political message of the film is not something China would be comfortable with. However, Beijing has shown acceptance of the film "Pixels" by approving its release in China, with the film set to debut on September 15th.