China box office: Crossing debuts at number one over Toy Story 5
The china box office crossing story of the June 26–28 weekend belongs to Bona Film Group's historical war epic "Crossing," which topped the mainland chart with RMB79.3 million ($11.7 million), according to Artisan Gateway data. Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5" slipped to second in its second weekend with $7.4 million, pushing its China cumulative to $29.6 million. The shift underscores how local patriotic fare can still displace Hollywood animation in one of the world's largest theatrical markets.
Key Takeaways
- "Crossing" opened at number one in mainland China with $11.7 million over the June 26–28 weekend.
- "Toy Story 5" dropped to second place in week two, bringing its China total to $29.6 million.
- A24's "Backrooms" debuted third with $5.3 million; "Dear You" and "I Know Who You Are" rounded out the top five.
- China's overall weekend gross reached $38.3 million, with 2026 year-to-date revenue down 40.5% versus 2025.
What Is 'Crossing' and Why Did It Top the China Box Office?
"Crossing," from Bona Film Group, is a large-scale historical war epic commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Long March. Directed by Xu Zhanxiong, it recreates the Battle of Chishui River and stars Liu Ye as Mao Zedong, Wang Lei as Zhou Enlai, plus Yu Shi and Wang Zhifei.
The film's $11.7 million opening lifted its cumulative China total to $12.8 million, overtaking "Toy Story 5" as the weekend's top earner. For more on how global theatrical trends are shifting, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
How Did 'Toy Story 5' Perform in Its Second China Weekend?
Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5" moved to second place in its second weekend of release, earning $7.4 million, according to Variety. That was not enough to hold off the patriotic draw of "Crossing."
With $29.6 million in cumulative China gross, the animated sequel remains a major Hollywood presence in the market. Even in second place, it outpaced most domestic rivals outside the top slot.
What Else Made the China Box Office Top Five?
A24's psychological horror "Backrooms" opened in third with $5.3 million. Jinant Film & TV's family drama "Dear You" placed fourth with $4.8 million in its ninth weekend, bringing its remarkable lifetime total to $281.8 million since its April 30 launch.
Damai Entertainment's "I Know Who You Are," directed by Feng Xiaogang and starring Lei Jiayin and Hu Ge, rounded out the top five with $2.6 million and a cumulative $14.6 million. The adaptation of Zhang Ce's novella follows a decades-long psychological duel between a grassroots police officer and a schoolteacher suspected of being a sleeper agent.
Why Does China's Year-to-Date Box Office Still Lag Behind 2025?
Mainland China's overall weekend grosses reached $38.3 million across the June 26–28 frame. Year-to-date revenue stands at $2.54 billion, down 40.5% from the same period in 2025.
"Crossing"'s patriotic opening and the sustained run of "Dear You" show local titles can still command attention. Yet the broader decline underscores how uneven recovery remains for one of the world's largest theatrical markets.