"Spider-Man: No Way Home" has continued to exceed box office estimates since its December debut

According to Comscore data, the film is the only Hollywood release to surpass $1 billion in the global box office since 2019, and with $748.9 million in the domestic box office, it is the fourth-highest grossing film of all time in the United States and Canada, just behind "Avatar," which has grossed $760.5 million.

No other US release has ever surpassed $250 million in ticket sales throughout its theatrical run in 2021.

Experts, on the other hand, are excited over "No Way Home's" global box office take. The Sony-Disney co-production has surpassed "Titanic" (1997) as the sixth-highest grossing film of all time, with $1.77 billion, only behind "Titanic" (1997), which has $1.84 billion. And it did so without the help of a China release.

For Hollywood films, especially those produced under the Marvel Cinematic Universe umbrella, the Chinese box office has become increasingly crucial. However, due to policy changes within the Chinese government and the rapid rise of its domestic box office, China is becoming more discriminating about which Western films are shown within the nation.

"Spider-tremendous Man's global success is one for the ages," said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. "However, there are a few asterisks." "Without a release in China, at least several hundred million bucks will have been left on the table."

According to Comscore data, China accounted for 13.3 percent of "Spider-Man: Homecoming's" total box office, or $117 million, in 2017, and 18.25 percent of "Spider-Man: Far From Home's" global box office, or $204.9 million, in 2019.

Because "Spider-Man: No Way Home" brings together generations of Spider-Man characters, it functions more like an Avengers-style team-up film like "Captain America: Civil War," "Avengers: Infinity War," or "Avengers: Endgame," which means its overall percentage could have been higher, ranging from 18 to 22 percent.

"Many say that the global success of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' proves that Hollywood doesn't have to rely on the Chinese market," Jun Fang, a visiting assistant professor of sociology at Colby College, stated. "This is foolish and out of touch since not every Hollywood film can be as successful as Spider-Man, and not every studio can afford to lose the Chinese cinema market totally as Disney did with its Marvel films in 2021."

No Marvel film has been released in China since "Spider-Man: Far From Home" in 2019.

"Black Widow," Disney's first MCU film released during the epidemic, was released during a Chinese blackout time. In July, the country keeps indigenous productions in theaters while boxing out foreign films.

The 100th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party has influenced the scheduling of non-Chinese films this year. The occasion has resulted in a months-long period of media suppression. Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and "Eternals," on the other hand, were banned from the country for various reasons.

Hollywood's access to the Chinese market has decreased substantially in recent years. Aside from restrictions on how many Western films may be shown in Chinese theaters, the country has erected obstacles to the entrance that can censor films outright or limit the amount of time a picture can be marketed before its release.

China's already severe restrictions were exacerbated in 2018 when the country's film and television industry oversight was transferred to the Communist Party's propaganda department, giving the party even more control over China's media and entertainment.

As Hollywood's foothold in China dwindles, American studios must figure out how to develop films that will appeal to Chinese moviegoers if they are to continue to profit from the Chinese market.