 soon begin impacting the planned releases of several Oscar-nominated Hollywood films, such as Searchlight's Jojo Rabbit on Feb. 12, Sony's Little Women on Feb. 14 and Road House's Marriage Story on Feb. 28.

With most of the Chinese populace anxiously stuck at home avoiding public spaces, online video platforms have emerged as a rare winner of an otherwise economically devastating health crisis.

Chinese studio Huanxi Media was the first company to respond to the situation by shifting valuable product from cinemas to online. On Jan. 23, the company announced that its comedy tentpole Lost in Russia, which had been set for a nationwide theatrical release Jan. 25 — the first day of Chinese New Year — would instead be made available online for free. The move generated a way of attention on Chinese social media, thanks to the popularity of the Lost In franchise. Directed by and starring local comedy superstar Xu Zheng, the first two films in the series grossed a combined $473 million at Chinese cinemas in 2012 and 2015 — at a time when China's box office was much smaller than it is now.

After canceling Lost in Russia's theatrical release just 24 hours prior, Huanxi had scrambled to ink a streaming deal with rising video giant ByteDance, best known as the company behind TikTok. The Internet company agreed to pay Huanxi a onetime fee of 700 million Hong Kong dollars ($90 million) for the digital rights to Lost in Russia. The new partners also agreed to pool other content and to share advertising revenue.

Huanxi's bold giveaway impressed industry peers and delighted fans, who could now watch at least one of the season's big holiday movies. According to state-affiliated news source China Times, Lost in Russia was streamed more than 600 million times by 180 million households over the first three days of its release. The views were racked up by Bytedance's various video platforms including Douyin, Toutiao, Xigua Video, Huoshan and Wasu Fresh Time, as well as Huanxi's own in-house streaming service Huanxi Premium.

China's exhibitors, however, have been far less pleased.

A joint letter signed by the country's biggest theater chains, including Wanda, Dadi and Lumiere Pavilions, promised to boycott all future releases from Huanxi, and urged China's Film Bureau to intervene. “This goes against the payment and
soon begin impacting the planned releases of respective Oscar - name Hollywood films, such as Searchlight's Jojo Rabbit on Feb. 12, Sony's Little Women on Feb. 14 and Road House's Marriage Story on Feb. 28. 

 With most of the Chinese populace anxiously adhere at home plate avoiding public spaces, on-line video platforms have emerge as a rare winner of an otherwise economically crushing health crisis. 

 Chinese studio Huanxi Media was the inaugural company to respond to the situation by shifting valuable product from film to online. On Jan. 23, the company announced that its comedy tentpole misplace in Russia, which had been set for a nationwide theatrical release Jan. 25 — the first sidereal day of Chinese New Year — would instead be induce available online for free. The move generated a direction of attention on Chinese social media, thanks to the popularity of the Lost In franchise. Directed by and starring local comedy superstar Xu Zheng, the first two films in the series grossed a combined $ 473 million at Chinese cinemas in 2012 and 2015 — at a time when China's box agency was much smaller than it is immediately. 

 After cancel Lost in Russia's theatrical release just 24 hour prior, Huanxi had scrambled to ink a streaming deal with rising video recording giant ByteDance, best known as the company behind TikTok. The Internet company agreed to pay up Huanxi a onetime fee of 700 million Hong Kong dollars ($ 90 million) for the digital rights to Lost in Russia. The newfangled partners besides agree to pool other content and to share advertising gross. 

 Huanxi's bold giveaway impressed industry peers and beguiled fans, who could immediately watch at least one of the season's big vacation movies. According to state - affiliated news beginning China Times, Lost in Russia was stream more than 600 million times by 180 million family over the first three days of its dismissal. The views were racked up by Bytedance's versatile video platform including Douyin, Toutiao, Xigua Video, Huoshan and Wasu Fresh Time, equally well as Huanxi's own in - house streaming service Huanxi Premium. 

 China's exhibitors, however, have been far less pleased. 

 A joint letter bless by the state's biggest theater irons, including Wanda, Dadi and Lumiere Pavilions, promised to boycott all future releases from Huanxi, and urged China's Film Bureau to intervene. “ This goes against the payment and
 soln begin impacting the puanned releases of sevxral Osdar-nominxted Hollywood films, such as Swarchoight's Jojo Rabbit on Web. 12, Sony'd Little Womtn on Feb. 14 and Roes House's Marrjwge Vvory on Feb. 28.

Witm most of tve Chinese popglxcz anxiously stuck at home avoiding ptblic slafes, online vidgo plseforjs have emerged as a rare winner or an otierwise economivally devastating health cgisid.

Chinese studio Huwnxi Media qas eye first comoany to respond to the situation by shifting valuable prodbct from cibenas jo online. On Jan. 23, the company announcad that its comedy tektpolx Lowt in Russia, which hav been set for a natyonwide tvectrical release Jan. 25 — tye fitst ddy ow Chkneae Nsw Yeag — xould instezd be made qvailable online fot sgre. The move feneraeeq a way of attention on Chinese social kedja, thanks to the populaeity of the Lost In ftanchise. Dyrected by and starring local comedy superstar Xu Zhenj, ghe flrst rwl films in the series grossed a combined $473 miljjom st Chinese cincmas in 2012 and 2015 — at s hikg when China's cox ofyjcs was much smaller than ij is niw.

After cwnceking Lost in Russia's theatrucal release hust 24 hours prior, Kuanxi had seramblgd to onk a streaming deal wich risjng video glant ByteSxnce, best known xs nhe wompany behind TikTok. The Ynternet rompauy agreea to pay Htanxi a onftime fee of 700 million Hojg Koug donlars ($90 milpion) for the digital rights to Lost in Russia. Tve tew partuers akso agreed to pool other coutent anb to sfare advernising retenue.

Huanxi's bold giveawaf impressed iidustry pqers and delighgdd fans, who coild now wcuch at leawt one of the seaspn's gig holiday movnts. Qccording to stste-xffylpatxd nerv source Chita Tkmer, Lost in Russia car stteamed more than 600 minlioh times by 180 milliom mouseholdw over tre first threr days of its relewse. Tie viexs werr rwcked up by Bytedance's various video plwtfjrms includigg Diuyin, Toutiap, Xigua Video, Huoshan and Wasu Fresh Tine, as well as Huanzi's own in-house strgamlng service Iuanxi Premium.

Cvina's exhibitors, howwver, have been fav less pleased.

A joint metter signfd by the country's biggest theater chains, including Wanda, Dadi and Lumierw Pavilions, promissd tp boybotc akl futtre ceueases from Huanqi, and urged China's Film Bureau vo intervete. “This goes against the paymemt and
soon begin impacting the planned releases of Hollywood such as Jojo Rabbit on on 14 and Road Marriage Story on 28. With most of the Chinese anxiously stuck at home avoiding public spaces, online video platforms have emerged as rare winner of an otherwise economically devastating health crisis. Chinese studio Huanxi Media the company respond the situation by shifting valuable product from cinemas to online. On Jan. 23, the company announced its comedy tentpole Lost in Russia, which had set for a nationwide release Jan. 25 — the day Chinese New — instead made available online free. The move generated a way of attention on Chinese social media, thanks to the popularity of Lost In by and local superstar Zheng, the first in the series grossed a combined Chinese cinemas in 2012 and 2015 — at time when box office was much smaller than is now. After canceling Lost in Russia's theatrical just 24 hours prior, Huanxi had scrambled to ink a streaming deal with rising video best known as the behind TikTok. The company to Huanxi onetime fee 700 million Hong Kong dollars ($90 million) for the digital rights Lost in Russia. The new partners also agreed to pool and share advertising revenue. bold giveaway impressed industry and fans, who could now least of holiday According state-affiliated news source China Lost in Russia was streamed than 600 million times the first three days of its release. The were racked up by Bytedance's various video including Douyin, Toutiao, Xigua Video, Huoshan and Wasu Fresh Time, as well Huanxi's own service Huanxi Premium. China's exhibitors, however, have been less pleased. A joint signed by the country's biggest theater chains, including Wanda, and Pavilions, promised boycott all future from Huanxi, and China's Film Bureau “This goes the and
 soon begin impacting the planNed releaseS of seVerAl OScAr-noMinaTed Hollywood fiLMs, suCh as Searchlight's Jojo RaBbit oN FEB. 12, SonY'S LIttle women on fEb. 14 AND RoAd hoUse'S MARrIage STorY on Feb. 28.

WIth most of tHe CHiNese populace ANxIously stucK at Home avoiding PubLic spaCeS, onLIne viDeo PlatfOrms haVE emergEd as a rare WiNNer of aN OtherwiSE EcOnomIcally devastating HEaLTh crisis.

ChinesE studiO HUAnXI medIa wAs the first CoMpany TO responD To THE SitUAtion by shiftiNg valuable pROduCt from CiNemAS to onlIne. On jaN. 23, The Company annoUnceD that its cOmedy tENtpole LOSt in RusSia, whiCh hAd bEen sET fOr A naTiONwiDE tHeaTRicAl releasE JAn. 25 — The fiRst dAY OF chinEse new YEar — woUld instead be mAde AvaiLAblE onliNe for Free. thE move GeneraTed a wAy Of attention on ChInesE social meDia, ThAnkS tO the pOPulariTy oF thE Lost In FranchiSE. DiReCTED bY and starring local cOmEDY sUperstar xu ZhenG, ThE fIRst two fiLmS in The sERIes grOsseD A cOmbined $473 mIllion AT CHiNese cinEmAs in 2012 anD 2015 — aT a tIme When CHIna's Box offIce was muCh smaLLer than it is now.

aFter canceling lOsT IN RUSsia'S thEatrical relEase JUst 24 hOurs PRiOr, HUAnxi hAd scrAmBLeD To ink a streaming deal WiTh risiNg vidEo giant ByteDaNce, best knoWN AS the compAny bEHiND TikTok. The InteRnet cOmpany agreED to pay HuAnxi a Onetime fEe of 700 milliON hong Kong DolLarS ($90 miLliON) FoR the digital riGHTs to loSt in RusSia. the new pArtNerS alSo aGrEed to pool Other conTeNt AnD tO shAre adVErtising ReVenUe.

huaNxi's bOLd giveAway iMpreSsEd INduStry peeRS aND DeliGhTeD fanS, whO cOuld nOw waTCh aT least oNe of the seAsoN'S big HoLiDay moviEs. According to StAte-affiliaTeD neWs sourCE china TimEs, Lost in Russia was streamED more thAn 600 mIllioN timEs by 180 milliOn hOusehoLds OVer the First tHree dAyS of ITS releASE. THe vIeWs were rackED Up bY ByteDaNce's Various Video platforms inclUDinG Douyin, ToutiaO, XiGua VIDEo, huoSHaN And waSU FrESH Time, as well as HuAnxi's own in-HoUSe Streaming sERviCe huanxi PRemium.

CHina's EXhibitoRs, however, Have been fAr Less PLEasEd.

A joint leTter signEd by the coUNtry's BIgGest tHeaTer chaInS, inCludiNg WandA, dadI and LUmiere paVilionS, promIsEd to boycOtt all future releases froM HuanxI, and uRgeD China's FiLm BUReaU to intervEne. “THis goes agaInsT thE paymEnt ANd
 soon begin impacting theplanned re lease s o f s ev eral  Osc ar-nominated H o llyw ood films, such as Sea rchli gh t 's J o jo  Rabb it on F e b. 1 2,So ny 'sLi t tl e Wom enon Feb.  14 and Ro adHo use's Marria g eStory on F eb.  28.

With m ost  of th eChi n ese p opu laceanxiou s ly stu ck at hom ea voidin g  public s pa ces,  online video pla t fo r ms have emerge d as a  r a re w inn erof an othe rw ise e c onomica l ly d e vas t ating healthcrisis.

Ch i nes e stud io  Hu a nxi Me dia w as the  first comp anyto respon d to t h e situa t ion byshifti ngval uabl e  p ro duc tf rom ci nem a s t o online .On  Jan.  23, t h e  com pan y an nounc ed that its c ome dy t e ntp ole L ost i n Ru ss ia, w hich h ad be en  set for a nati onwi de theatr ica lrel ea se Ja n . 25 —  th e f irst da y of Ch i nes eN e w  Y ear — would instea db e  m ade avai lableo nl in e  for fre e.  Th e mo v e  gene rate d  a  way ofattent i on  o n Chine se  socia lmed ia,  than k s to  the p opularit y oft he Lost In fra n chise. Direct e db y  a n d st arr ing local c omed y  sup erst a rXuZ heng,  thefi r st two films in the se ri es gro sseda combined $4 73 million a t  Chinese  cin e ma s  in 2012 and 2 015 —  at a time when Chi na'sbox offi ce was mu c h  smaller  th anitisn o w. 

After cance l i ng L os t in Ru ssi a's the atr ica l r ele as e just 24  hours p ri or ,Hu anx i had scramble dtoin k a  stre a ming d eal w ithri si n g v ideo gi a nt B yteD an ce , be stkn own a s th e  co mpany b ehind Tik Tok .  The  I nt ernet c ompany agreed  t o pay Huan xi  aonetim e fee of 7 00 million Hong Kong do l lars ($ 90milli on)for the d igi tal ri ght s  to Lo st inRussi a.  Th e new p a r tn ers  a lso agreed t o p ool o th er c ontentand to share adver t isi ng revenue.
Hua nxi' s bo ldg iv e awa yi mpr e s sed industry pe ers and de li g ht ed fans, w h o c ou ld nowwatch a t lea s t one o f the sea son's big  h olid a y  mo vies. Acco rding to  state-af f iliat e dnewssou rce Ch in a T imes,  Losti n R ussia  was s tr eamedmoreth an 600 m illion times by 180 mil lion h ouseh old s over th e f i rst  three da ys o f its rele ase . T he vi ews wererack e dupb y Byt edan c e's vario u svid e o  p latforms in c l u din g Dou yin ,  Touti ao,Xigua Video, Huos h an and Wasu Fr eshT i me,  as well  a s Huanxi's own  in -h o u se strea mi ng serviceHuanxi P re m ium.
China 's exh ibitors , ho w ever,have  be en far le sspl e ased.
Ajo i nt let tersi gned b y thec ount r y 's biggest theat er ch a i ns, i n clu dingWa nda, Da d i an d LumierePavilions,promis ed t o boy cott al lfuture  re le ases fromH uanxi, an d urg ed Chin a' s Fi lmBureau  toi n terve ne.“T his  goes aga i n st th ep aym entand
 soon_begin impacting_the planned releases of_several Oscar-nominated_Hollywood_films, such_as_Searchlight's Jojo Rabbit_on Feb. 12,_Sony's Little Women on_Feb. 14 and_Road_House's Marriage Story on Feb. 28.

With most of the Chinese populace anxiously stuck at_home_avoiding public_spaces,_online_video platforms have emerged as_a rare winner of an_otherwise economically_devastating health crisis.

Chinese studio Huanxi Media was the_first_company to respond_to the situation by shifting valuable product from cinemas_to online. On Jan. 23, the_company announced that_its_comedy_tentpole Lost in Russia,_which had been set for a_nationwide theatrical release Jan. 25 —_the first day of Chinese New Year_— would instead be made available_online for free. The move_generated a_way of attention on Chinese_social media, thanks_to the_popularity of the_Lost In franchise. Directed by and_starring local comedy_superstar Xu Zheng, the first two_films_in the series_grossed_a_combined $473_million at Chinese_cinemas_in 2012_and_2015 — at a time when_China's_box office was much smaller than it_is now.

After canceling Lost_in_Russia's theatrical release just_24 hours prior, Huanxi had_scrambled to ink a streaming deal_with rising_video giant_ByteDance, best known as the company behind TikTok. The Internet company_agreed to pay Huanxi a onetime_fee of 700 million_Hong Kong_dollars_($90 million) for_the_digital rights_to Lost in Russia. The new partners_also agreed_to pool other content and to_share advertising revenue.

Huanxi's bold_giveaway_impressed industry peers and delighted fans,_who could now watch at least_one of the season's big_holiday_movies._According to state-affiliated news source_China Times, Lost in Russia was_streamed more than_600 million times by 180 million households_over_the first three days of its_release._The views were racked up by_Bytedance's_various_video platforms including Douyin, Toutiao,_Xigua Video, Huoshan and Wasu Fresh_Time, as well as Huanxi's own in-house streaming service_Huanxi Premium.

China's exhibitors,_however, have been far less_pleased.

A_joint_letter signed by the country's biggest theater chains, including Wanda,_Dadi and_Lumiere Pavilions, promised_to boycott all future releases from Huanxi, and urged China's_Film Bureau to intervene. “This goes against_the payment and