China box office: 'Once Upon a Time in the Middle East' tops again
“Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” held the No. 1 spot at mainland China's box office for a third consecutive weekend, grossing $25.6 million (RMB174.4 million) from Aug. 28–30. The Wen Muye-directed war comedy-drama has now reached $283.7 million since its Aug. 11 debut. Artisan Gateway data cited by Variety shows the Dirty Monkeys production, directed by Wen Muye (“Dying to Survive”) and produced by Ning Hao, continuing its summer breakout run as overall market revenue remains down sharply year over year.
The China box office performance for “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” highlights how locally produced films are driving the summer season while Hollywood imports post more modest returns. Track similar global entertainment moves in our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” topped China's weekend chart for a third straight frame with $25.6 million.
- Cumulative gross for the Wen Muye-directed film has climbed to $283.7 million since Aug. 11.
- Pearl River Film Group's crime drama “V” held second place; Universal's “The Odyssey” ranked third.
- Sony's “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” remains 2026's top-earning Hollywood import in China at $225.7 million.
- China's 2026 year-to-date box office stands at $4.13 billion, down 28.1% from the same period in 2025.
What Is ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’ About?
The film stars Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif in a story set in a fictional Middle Eastern city. A debt-ridden Chinese chef transforms his restaurant into a sanctuary for local orphans and civilians after armed conflict breaks out.
War comedy-drama is an unusual blend for a mainland blockbuster, yet the Dirty Monkeys production has resonated with audiences through its third consecutive weekend at No. 1. Ning Hao's involvement as producer and Wen Muye's track record after “Dying to Survive” likely helped build early buzz.
How Did Other Films Perform This Weekend?
Pearl River Film Group's crime drama “V” maintained second place in its sophomore weekend, earning $14.4 million and pushing its cumulative Chinese total to $59.6 million. Directed by Han Yan and starring Tony Leung Ka Fai, Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai, the film chronicles an ambitious man's rise to power and the fallout that follows.
Universal's epic “The Odyssey” placed third with $10 million in its third weekend, reaching $87.4 million overall. Pearl Studio's animated fantasy “All Wishes Come True!” took fourth with $7.9 million in its seventh frame, bringing its total to $270.3 million since its July 18 premiere. Sony's “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” rounded out the top five, adding $2.9 million for a cumulative $225.7 million—still the year's highest-grossing Hollywood import in China.
Why Is China's Overall Box Office Down in 2026?
Mainland China's overall weekend grosses reached $69.8 million during the Aug. 28–30 frame. The broader picture is tougher: 2026 year-to-date revenue stands at $4.13 billion, down 28.1% compared with the same period in 2025.
That decline frames the success of “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” as both a commercial win and a sign of how much the market has cooled. Even strong performers are operating within a smaller overall pie than last year.
What Does This Mean for Hollywood Imports?
While “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” remain in the top five, neither is challenging the domestic leader. Hollywood titles can still draw significant totals—Spider-Man's $225.7 million is substantial—but local films are setting the pace at the top of the chart.
For studios watching China closely, the weekend reinforces a familiar pattern: imported blockbusters can accumulate large cumulative numbers, yet homegrown hits increasingly define the peak of the box office hierarchy.