War Comedy Reigns China Box Office

The Chinese war comedy-drama "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" continued its box office success, holding the No. 1 spot in mainland China for the weekend of August 21-23. The film garnered an additional RMB298.8 million ($43.9 million) in its second week of release. Directed by Wen Muye and starring Shen Teng, the movie has amassed $232.2 million since its debut on August 11. Its narrative centers on a Chinese chef who opens a restaurant in the Middle East to settle family debts, only for it to become a sanctuary amid escalating armed conflict.

Other films in the top rankings included Pearl River Film Group's crime drama "V," which debuted at second place with $18.9 million over the weekend, reaching a cumulative $30.7 million. Universal's "The Odyssey" secured third place in its second weekend, earning $15.9 million for a total of $68.7 million. Pearl Studio's animated "All Wishes Come True!" took fourth with $9.8 million, bringing its six-week total to $255.7 million. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" rounded out the top five, adding $4.6 million for a cumulative $219.9 million.

Overall box office receipts for the mainland China weekend totaled $103.1 million. The year-to-date revenue for 2026 stands at $4 billion, marking a 28.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.