By Ryan Parsons | Image property of Sony Pictures.
The Da Vinci Code Poster
Though Sony Pictures continues to gobble up box office gold around the globe with The Da Vinci Code, the film has encountered its first major hiccup. Ok, maybe its second major hiccup if you count the horrid reviews the film received.
What hiccup you ask? How about China?
The Da Vinci Code Banned from China
China has been a bit more problematic than usual when it comes to the big blockbusters this year. Their latest move is the removal of The Da Vinci Code from theatres across China. Why would they do such a move? Well, some of the reasons are straight up stupid.
According to Variety, there are a few plausible reasons on why China decided to give Da Vinci the boot.
Reason One -- The film was pulled in order to "protect market for locally made films, and give them more screen time."
Reason Two -- China is getting close to the annual summer blackout of Hollywood releases and Da Vinci is the pivotal summer movie.
Reason Three -- Protests from Catholic groups having finally contributed to the film's withdrawal. China and the Vatican are currently at loggerheads over the appointment of unofficial bishops to China's independent-minded Catholic church.
Reason Four -- China did not like the fact that The Da Vinci Code was doing so well at the box office. "It is within a day of becoming the number two all-time foreign box office grosser for China," said a distribution industry source.
Hollywood was surprised that China accepted the film in the first place due to the religious content. So, on the positive side, Sony Pictures should be stoked on the money they made during the time they had.
Seriously, once you break $300 million what is another few anyway?
Add to Heffee!
