China remains one of the most important international film markets. That reality was highlighted last year when Disney and Pixar’s Zootopia 2 became the studio’s highest-grossing film of all time, due in large part to its performance at the Chinese box office. The opportunity to continue releasing major animated films in the region is likely one of Disney’s key business interests. However, Disney’s relationship with the country is drawing attention after reports that a senior Pixar executive skipped a meeting with the Dalai Lama over concerns it could jeopardize the release of Toy Story 5.
