🎦 Family Drama Surges to Top of China’s Box Office
The Chinese theatrical market has entered its traditional post-holiday lull following the frantic "Golden Week" period. Over the past weekend, a poignant family drama claimed the top spot in the charts, edging out high-stakes thrillers and Hollywood franchises.
The Triumph of a Grandmother’s Quest
First place went to the Jinant Film & TV drama “Dear You.” According to data from Artisan Gateway, the film earned 62.6 million yuan ($9.2 million) over the weekend. Having premiered on April 30, the movie is showing impressive stamina, with its total domestic cume reaching $20.1 million.
Directed by Lan Hongchun, the film follows Ye Shurou, an elderly woman from the Chaoshan region. Her quiet life is upended when her debt-ridden grandson travels to Thailand in search of a billionaire grandfather. Her subsequent investigation uncovers a secret love affair spanning half a century and a shocking truth: the person she had been corresponding with for decades was a total stranger.
Thrillers and Police Intrigue
Zhonghe Qiancheng’s tense thriller “Vanishing Point” slipped to second place, adding $8.2 million to its tally for a solid total of $51.3 million. Starring Zheng Kai and Liu Haocun, the adaptation of the novel The Sea Anemone delves into the dark secrets of a residential complex that surface after a child mysteriously disappears on the winter solstice.
Rounding out the top three is the Hong Kong police prequel “Cold War 1994,” which earned $4.3 million (totaling $36.2 million). The plot takes viewers back to the years preceding the handover of Hong Kong to China, revealing the origins of the systemic corruption and internal power struggles that defined the original franchise.
Western Releases
Hollywood projects maintained their positions in the lower half of the Top 5.
- “The Devil Wears Prada 2” held onto fourth place, bringing in another $1.4 million (bringing its total in China to $13 million).
- Fifth place went to the week’s newcomer, New Line Cinema’s fantasy-action sequel “Mortal Kombat II,” which debuted with $1.3 million.
Market Overview
Total box office takings in mainland China for the past weekend amounted to $27.3 million. While cinemas continue to operate steadily, the industry’s total revenue since the start of 2026 stands at $2.05 billion—a 47.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. Analysts attribute this decline to the absence of massive local blockbusters during the first quarter.
Source: Variety
