Mulan, Boycotts, and Disney+

The film has generated controversy due to its lead actor and Disney’s crediting of CCP government agencies

If social media mentions alone were a predictor of box office success, Disney’s live-action Mulan would take the top spot — particularly in a time when many movie theaters across the world are shut down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But that’s not what happened. After the film hit Disney+ last week, the hashtag #BoycottMulan started trending on Twitter. This was in response to an incident from the previous year in which the film’s lead star, Liu Yifei, had voiced support for the Hong Kong police at a time when Hong Kongers were protesting a suggested extradition policy that would subject residents to mainland China’s legal system. The protests carry on today. “I support Hong Kong’s police, you can beat me up now,” Liu had stated on Weibo, one of China’s leading social media platforms, adding in English “What a shame for Hong Kong.”

Mulan is not Disney’s moonshot attempt at gaining a foothold in China. The country has had a long and ongoing relationship with Disney, from the company’s theatrical success to its Parks operations. Shanghai Disneyland park had 11.8 millions guests in 2018 alone, and contributes around $1bn in revenue and $50m in operating profit…