Chinese Nationals Threatening To Boycott Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections is the fourth instalment in The Matrix film franchise and the sequel to The Matrix Revolutions (2003). The film flopped in China with a $7.5 million opening. Chinese nationals recently raged at Keanu Reeves over his Tibet stance, threatening to boycott the Matrix.

Chinese nationalists have threatened to boycott the recently released sci-fi blockbuster “The Matrix: Resurrections.” They took this step after learning that its star, Keanu Reeves, will be attending the Tibet House U.S. Benefit Concert in March.

The backlash from angry Chinese patriots known as “little pinks,” a term for an informal army of young nationalists who frequently make “wolf warrior” style pro-Beijing, anti-foreign comments, could end the fourth instalment of “The Matrix” series’ box office run.

According to Variety, the film’s performance has already been mediocre, and it will most likely be sidelined beginning next Tuesday, when eight major Chinese titles will be released in time for the Lunar New Year holidays. According to Endata, the film grossed RMB78 million ($12.3 million) after a 14-day run. The film also received a harsh reaction from fans. With nearly 75,000 votes counted, it received a rating of 5.7 out of 10 on the movie website Douban. On another website, Mtime, it received a slightly higher rating of 6.1 out of 10.

CHINAD8, a pro-China microblogging site on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo, posted on January 21. “How can Keanu Reeves not understand this and take part in a pro-Tibet independence concert? Aren’t these celebrities afraid of losing the China market?” Variety contacted Reeves’ representatives but did not receive a response by press time.

The post went viral just a week after “The Matrix: Resurrections” hit theatres on January 14. Many Chinese netizens commented that they were “shocked” by the news and that they would no longer be fans of the popular Hollywood star.

“These high school graduates in Hollywood can’t even identify where Tibet is on the map, but they ‘care’ if people there are leading a good life.”

“He’s already a has-been. What kind of market value does he have?” 

“Tibet belongs to China.”

Hollywood stars who have previously expressed support for or affiliation with pro-Tibetan independence individuals or organizations may be barred from entering the Middle Kingdom. Previous examples include Richard Gere, who has lost movie deals due to his firm stance on Tibet and close ties with the 14th Dalai Lama. Brad Pitt for his role in “Seven Years in Tibet.” To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

What’s your opinion on this one? Let us know in the comments!