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Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Not released in China after Sony refused a censorship demand to cut or shrink the Statue of Liberty from the film's climax. Sony's film chief later confirmed the request.
- Status
- Restricted
- Country
- China
- Category
- Movies & TV
- Banned since
- 2021
- Last checked
- 01/11/2026
Spider-Man: No Way Home never played in Chinese cinemas. Chinese censors told Sony the film could be released if it cut the Statue of Liberty from its climax. Sony refused, and the December 2021 blockbuster skipped China entirely.
Key facts
- Status: not released in mainland China (approval depended on cuts)
- Released elsewhere: December 2021
- The demand: remove or reduce the Statue of Liberty
- Worldwide gross without China: about $1.9 billion
Why wasn’t Spider-Man: No Way Home released in China?
The film’s final battle, more than 20 minutes long, takes place on scaffolding around the Statue of Liberty, which is shown holding Captain America’s shield. In May 2022, Puck News reported that Chinese authorities had asked Sony to delete the statue. When Sony said no, they asked whether it could at least shrink its presence, for example by cutting shots of Spider-Man standing on the crown.
Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman later confirmed the story on a podcast, saying the request was simply to cut the Statue of Liberty. He added that he did not want to explain to Congress why he had removed it at the request of the Chinese Communist Party.
How much did it cost Sony?
Analysts quoted by CNBC estimated the film could have taken between $170 million and $340 million in China. Even without it, No Way Home grossed close to $1.9 billion worldwide, one of the biggest box-office results ever.
Is Spider-Man: No Way Home banned in China?
Not formally. China never announced a ban, but the film was never released there because Sony refused the cuts. It joined other 2021 Marvel titles shut out of China, including Shang-Chi and Eternals. More cases are on the China bans page.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spider-Man: No Way Home banned in China?
Not formally. China said it could be released if Sony cut the Statue of Liberty from the climax. Sony refused, so the film never played in Chinese cinemas.
Why did China want the Statue of Liberty removed?
China gave no official reason. The statue is a symbol of American freedom, and censors also asked Sony to cut some of the more patriotic shots of Spider-Man on its crown.
How much money did Sony lose in China?
Analysts estimated No Way Home could have earned between $170 million and $340 million in China. It still grossed about $1.9 billion worldwide.