The Chinese box office remained dominated by “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” during the August 21-23 weekend, as the war comedy-drama from Dirty Monkeys secured its position at the top of the charts. The film, directed by Wen Muye and featuring an ensemble cast including Shen Teng and Jiang Qiming, earned approximately 298.8 million yuan in its second weekend. Since its nationwide release on August 11, the production has accumulated over 232 million dollars.
The film’s narrative centers on a Chinese chef who relocates to the Middle East to settle family debts through restaurant ownership, only to have the establishment transform into a community sanctuary when regional conflict escalates. The picture’s sustained box office performance demonstrates strong audience engagement with its unique blend of genres.
New entry “V” from Pearl River Film Group claimed the second-position slot with earnings of 18.9 million dollars over the weekend period. Directed by Han Yan and led by a prominent cast featuring Tony Ka Fai Leung and Zhu Yilong, the crime drama tells the story of an ambitious individual whose ruthless ascent to success is threatened by emerging consequences and concealed secrets. The film benefited from early screenings following its August 19 premiere event.
Universal’s “The Odyssey” maintained third place with 15.9 million dollars in its second weekend, while Pearl Studio’s animated feature “All Wishes Come True!” held fourth position. Sony’s superhero offering “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” rounded out the top five performers in the competitive marketplace.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
