Walt Disney Co`s live-action remake of "Mulan" opened on Thursday to a lacklustre reception in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy activists have been leading calls to boycott the movie. 
 
Based on a Chinese folk story, the film has provoked a backlash in the Chinese-ruled city and elsewhere over its star`s comments of support for Hong Kong police during protests last year and for being partly filmed in the Xinjiang region.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-disneys-mulan-opens-weak-in-china-with-232-million-at-box-offices-327331" hreflang="en">Disney's 'Mulan' opens weak in China with $23.2 million at box offices</a> 
 
"I will not watch Mulan because of its cast and filming location," said 24-year-old clerk Cherry Lee as she passed by the Mong Kok Broadway Theatre screening the film. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and internet users in Taiwan and Thailand have been among those promoting hashtags "#BoycottMulan" and "#BanMulan" on Twitter, following this month`s launch of the film on Disney`s streaming platform.

Most Hong Kong cinemas had their first showing of Mulan on Thursday morning. At Mong Kok Broadway Theatre, in a popular protest area, Mulan sold one third of the tickets at its debut according to frontdesk staff, around 20% fewer than local movie "i`m livin` it" by Hing Fan Wong, which debuted at the same time. 
 
"I’ve known the story of Mulan since I was little," said retiree Chan, as he entered the cinema. He declined to give his first name to avoid getting involved in the controversy. At Festival Grand Cinema in another district, Christopher Nolan`s `Tenet`, which debuted in Hong Kong on Sept. 20, sold more tickets on Thursday morning than 'Mulan', staff said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/china-bars-media-coverage-of-disneys-mulan-after-xinjiang-backlash-sources-326579" hreflang="en">China bars media coverage of Disney's 'Mulan' after Xinjiang backlash: Sources</a> 
 
Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'Mulan' also had a cold reception in mainland China, where Chinese authorities had told major media outlets not to cover the film's release in the wake of the uproar. 
 
Internationally, the criticism has focused on the movie being partly filmed in Xinjiang, where China`s clamp-down on ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims has been criticised by some governments and rights groups. 
In Hong Kong, the star of the movie, mainland Chinese-born actress Liu Yifei, has angered democracy supporters after showing support for Hong Kong police in a social media post last year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/disney-very-pleased-with-mulan-debut-ahead-of-china-opening-326414" hreflang="en">Disney 'very pleased' with 'Mulan' debut ahead of China opening</a> 
 
Retiree Kwok, 65, who declined to give his first name, said he liked the movie because it represented values such as "safeguarding the country and helping families" at a time when China was being "suppressed by the United States.''

"Lui Yifei represents Mulan well, she is very brave and willing to fight against evil," Kwok said.

Walt Disney Co`s live-action remake of "Mulan" opened on Thursday to a lacklustre reception in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy activists have been leading calls to boycott the movie.

Walt Disney Co`s live-action remake of "Mulan" opened on Thursday to a lacklustre reception in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy activists have been leading calls to boycott the movie. Based on a Chinese folk story, the film has provoked a backlash in the Chinese-ruled city and elsewhere over its star`s comments of support for Hong Kong police during protests last year and for being partly filmed in the Xinjiang region. Also read: Disney's 'Mulan' opens weak in China with $23.2 million at box offices "I will not watch Mulan because of its cast and filming location," said 24-year-old clerk Cherry Lee as she passed by the Mong Kok Broadway Theatre screening the film. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and internet users in Taiwan and Thailand have been among those promoting hashtags "#BoycottMulan" and "#BanMulan" on Twitter, following this month`s launch of the film on Disney`s streaming platform. Most Hong Kong cinemas had their first showing of Mulan on Thursday morning. At Mong Kok Broadway Theatre, in a popular protest area, Mulan sold one third of the tickets at its debut according to frontdesk staff, around 20% fewer than local movie "i`m livin` it" by Hing Fan Wong, which debuted at the same time. "I’ve known the story of Mulan since I was little," said retiree Chan, as he entered the cinema. He declined to give his first name to avoid getting involved in the controversy. At Festival Grand Cinema in another district, Christopher Nolan`s `Tenet`, which debuted in Hong Kong on Sept. 20, sold more tickets on Thursday morning than 'Mulan', staff said. Also read: China bars media coverage of Disney's 'Mulan' after Xinjiang backlash: Sources Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'Mulan' also had a cold reception in mainland China, where Chinese authorities had told major media outlets not to cover the film's release in the wake of the uproar. Internationally, the criticism has focused on the movie being partly filmed in Xinjiang, where China`s clamp-down on ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims has been criticised by some governments and rights groups. In Hong Kong, the star of the movie, mainland Chinese-born actress Liu Yifei, has angered democracy supporters after showing support for Hong Kong police in a social media post last year. Also read: Disney 'very pleased' with 'Mulan' debut ahead of China opening Retiree Kwok, 65, who declined to give his first name, said he liked the movie because it represented values such as "safeguarding the country and helping families" at a time when China was being "suppressed by the United States.'' "Lui Yifei represents Mulan well, she is very brave and willing to fight against evil," Kwok said.

Disney's 'Mulan' gets cold reception in boycott-leading Hong Kong

Chinese authorities have told major media outlets not to cover Walt Disney Co`s release of 'Mulan', in an order issued after controversy erupted overseas over the film`s links with the Xinjiang region, four people familiar with matter told Reuters. 
 
Set to open in local theatres on Friday, Disney had high hopes for Mulan in China, but starving it of publicity in the country`s strictly censored media would be another blow to the $200 million production. 
 
Starring big-name Chinese-born actors - Jet Li, Gong Li, Donnie Yen and Liu Yifei - and based on a Chinese folk story, 'Mulan' was tailored to appeal to audiences in China, the world`s second-largest movie market. 
 
But mixed reviews online and capacity limits in theatres due to coronavirus prevention measures were likely to weigh on its box office performance, even before major media outlets received a notice telling them to refrain from covering the movie. 
 
Three sources told Reuters media outlets had received the notice, two of whom said it was sent by the Cyberspace Administration of China. A fourth source at a major Chinese newspaper said he received a text message with a similar order from a senior colleague. 
 
No reason was given in the notice, but the sources said they believed it was because of the overseas backlash over the film`s links to Xinjiang.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/disneys-mulan-sparks-backlash-over-xinjiang-hong-kong-326101" hreflang="en">Disney's 'Mulan' sparks backlash over Xinjiang, Hong Kong</a> 
 
Neither the Cyberspace Administration or Disney immediately responded to requests for comment. 
Partly shot in Xinjiang, Mulan`s credits included thanks to the authorities there, which prompted calls overseas for a boycott of the movie. China`s clampdown on ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang has been criticised by some governments, including the United States, and human rights groups. 
 
On Wednesday, the Global Times, a tabloid run by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, criticised the backlash against the movie in an editorial in its English edition, describing it as "another manifestation of the extreme ideologies regarding China among US public opinion." 
 
Disney had worked to ensure Mulan tested well with Chinese audiences, and the company`s chief financial officer told investors on Wednesday that it was "very pleased" with the initial results of its release elsewhere. 
The movie was released on Disney`s streaming service in many markets, rather than in cinemas, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/disney-very-pleased-with-mulan-debut-ahead-of-china-opening-326414" hreflang="en">Disney 'very pleased' with 'Mulan' debut ahead of China opening</a> 
 
Mulan is likely to be shown on more than 40% of China`s screens on Friday, according to data from Maoyan, a Tencent-backed ticketing platform. Chinese theatres are currently limiting capacity, typically at 50 percent. 
 
The film had sold 9.78 million yuan ($1.43 million) worth of tickets as of Thursday afternoon, accounting for 55% of all ticket sales sold across China for Friday`s shows. One analyst, who declined to be named because he said the situation is sensitive, predicted the film would earn a dismal 150 million yuan at mainland box offices, given early audience reviews. 
 
The film, which many have already seen online, has received a 4.7 score out of 10 on popular social media site Douban, where users leave reviews of films, books and music.

Chinese authorities have told major media outlets not to cover Walt Disney Co`s release of 'Mulan', in an order issued after controversy erupted overseas over the film`s links with the Xinjiang region, four people familiar with matter told Reuters.

Chinese authorities have told major media outlets not to cover Walt Disney Co`s release of 'Mulan', in an order issued after controversy erupted overseas over the film`s links with the Xinjiang region, four people familiar with matter told Reuters. Set to open in local theatres on Friday, Disney had high hopes for Mulan in China, but starving it of publicity in the country`s strictly censored media would be another blow to the $200 million production. Starring big-name Chinese-born actors - Jet Li, Gong Li, Donnie Yen and Liu Yifei - and based on a Chinese folk story, 'Mulan' was tailored to appeal to audiences in China, the world`s second-largest movie market. But mixed reviews online and capacity limits in theatres due to coronavirus prevention measures were likely to weigh on its box office performance, even before major media outlets received a notice telling them to refrain from covering the movie. Three sources told Reuters media outlets had received the notice, two of whom said it was sent by the Cyberspace Administration of China. A fourth source at a major Chinese newspaper said he received a text message with a similar order from a senior colleague. No reason was given in the notice, but the sources said they believed it was because of the overseas backlash over the film`s links to Xinjiang. Disney's 'Mulan' sparks backlash over Xinjiang, Hong Kong Neither the Cyberspace Administration or Disney immediately responded to requests for comment. Partly shot in Xinjiang, Mulan`s credits included thanks to the authorities there, which prompted calls overseas for a boycott of the movie. China`s clampdown on ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang has been criticised by some governments, including the United States, and human rights groups. On Wednesday, the Global Times, a tabloid run by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, criticised the backlash against the movie in an editorial in its English edition, describing it as "another manifestation of the extreme ideologies regarding China among US public opinion." Disney had worked to ensure Mulan tested well with Chinese audiences, and the company`s chief financial officer told investors on Wednesday that it was "very pleased" with the initial results of its release elsewhere. The movie was released on Disney`s streaming service in many markets, rather than in cinemas, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Disney 'very pleased' with 'Mulan' debut ahead of China opening Mulan is likely to be shown on more than 40% of China`s screens on Friday, according to data from Maoyan, a Tencent-backed ticketing platform. Chinese theatres are currently limiting capacity, typically at 50 percent. The film had sold 9.78 million yuan ($1.43 million) worth of tickets as of Thursday afternoon, accounting for 55% of all ticket sales sold across China for Friday`s shows. One analyst, who declined to be named because he said the situation is sensitive, predicted the film would earn a dismal 150 million yuan at mainland box offices, given early audience reviews. The film, which many have already seen online, has received a 4.7 score out of 10 on popular social media site Douban, where users leave reviews of films, books and music.

China bars media coverage of Disney's 'Mulan' after Xinjiang backlash: Sources

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Disney's 'Mulan' gets cold reception in boycott-leading Hong Kong

China bars media coverage of Disney's 'Mulan' after Xinjiang backlash: Sources