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A war-themed comedy-drama from Dirty Monkeys continues to dominate China’s box office landscape. “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” directed by Wen Muye and featuring actor Shen Teng, secured its fifth consecutive week at the top position with earnings of RMB52.9 million ($7.8 million) during the September 11–13 weekend. The film, which centers on a Chinese restaurant owner navigating conflict in the Middle East, has accumulated $318.4 million since its August 11 release.
Two other films advanced in the rankings over the weekend. “V,” a crime thriller from Pearl River Film Group, claimed the second position with $4.7 million in weekend receipts, bringing its total to $84.1 million. Pearl Studio’s animated comedy “All Wishes Come True!” remained in third place with $4 million earned, reaching $283.4 million since its July debut.
Universal’s “The Odyssey” achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the $100 million mark in China, adding $3.5 million for a cumulative total of $102.9 million. The film now ranks as director Christopher Nolan’s second-highest grossing release in the country, trailing only “Interstellar.” Meanwhile, the new fantasy romance “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday” opened in fifth place with $1.7 million across its initial two-day frame, adapted from a Japanese novel about lovers living in opposite timelines.
The mainland China market generated $28.8 million in overall weekend revenue. The 2026 year-to-date box office stands at $4.26 billion, representing a decline of 27.6% compared to the equivalent period in 2025.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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