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Ghostbusters can't be shown in China, probably because of the ghosts

The Chinese censorship board disallows films that 'promote cult or superstition'

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 14 July 2016 10:02 EDT
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With the majority of online trolls who petitioned against the all-female Ghostbusters reboot now probably deeply angry with the film's largely positive reception, they may be happy to hear the film is being denied a release in a certain country.

The supernatural comedy - directed by Bridesmaids' Paul Feig - won't be shown in China, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.

Despite the real reason for this being unknown, the decision could be due to the ghoulish antics lying at the film's centre; Hollywood films bearing similar themes have been disallowed by China in the past

Releases including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Crimson Peak - both of which feature ghostly elements - were banned by the Chinese censorship board whose policy to disallow films that "promote cult or superstition" won out.

We're assuming China's yet to see The Conjuring films then.

Even the original Ghostbusters, released in 1984, failed to secure a release in China with THR claiming this was the real reason Sony failed to submit the film in the first place citing a lack of market appeal; it seems the distributor has always been aware that nostalgia would play a large part of this film's success.

This new version of Ghostbusters stars Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon and is out now.

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