A war comedy-drama from director Wen Muye has dominated China’s box office landscape, maintaining its leading position for four consecutive weeks. The film, which stars Shen Teng as a chef operating a restaurant in the Middle East, has now surpassed the $300 million earnings threshold. During the September 4-6 weekend alone, the production generated approximately $12.1 million in ticket sales, bringing its total accumulated revenue to $305.6 million since its August 11 release.
The story follows Shen Teng’s character, a financially struggling restaurateur who, alongside his floor manager, converts his establishment into a protective sanctuary for civilians caught in regional conflict. The ensemble cast includes Aarif Rahman and Omar Sherif in supporting roles. The film’s sustained commercial performance reflects strong audience engagement with its blend of humor and dramatic storytelling centered on humanitarian themes.
Competition at the mainland box office remains active, with a crime thriller holding second place and earning $7.9 million during its third week of release. An adaptation of a classical epic claimed the third position, while an animated fantasy feature continued its extended theatrical run in fourth place. A new survival thriller rounded out the top five with its opening weekend debut.
Overall weekend revenues across mainland China reached $41.9 million. Year-to-date box office performance through 2026 totals $4.21 billion, representing a notable decline compared to the corresponding period last year.
Originally reported by Variety →
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