Navigating Transborder Flows: Distribution Patterns and Accessibility of Malaysian Chinese-Language Films on Netflix

Abstract

The rise of streaming media platforms has provided regional films with unprecedented global visibility, fostering transborder flows and promoting cross-cultural understanding through cinema. This phenomenon has reshaped the global film industry, yet research on the transborder flow of Malaysian Chinese-language films remains limited, particularly regarding their positioning within transnational media platforms and audiovisual translation modes utilised to reach diverse global audiences. This study addresses these gaps by exploring the distribution patterns and audiovisual translation practices of Malaysian Chinese-language films, compared with those in Chinese-language films from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Guided by the concept of preliminary norms, this study conducts a catalogue analysis to compare the translation modes and target language options employed in the distribution of Malaysian Chinese-language films and those from other Chinese-speaking regions in order to examine their transborder flow and international reach. The comparison reveals that Malaysian Chinese-language films tend to offer fewer audiovisual translation and target language options, thereby limiting their accessibility. In highlighting these disparities, the study also offers insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Malaysian Chinese-language films in navigating the global film landscape. The study further finds that Netflix’s genre categorisation and labelling systems restrict their visibility.