Dirty Monkeysโ war comedy-drama โOnce Upon a Time in the Middle Eastโ held onto the top spot at the mainland China box office for the third consecutive weekend, grossing RMB174.4 million ($25.6 million) over the Aug. 28โ30 frame, according to data from Artisan Gateway.
Directed by Wen Muye (โDying to Surviveโ) and produced by Ning Hao, the summer breakout has pushed its cumulative haul to $283.7 million since its August 11 launch. Starring Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif, the story follows a debt-ridden Chinese chef in a fictional Middle Eastern city who transforms his restaurant into a sanctuary for local orphans and civilians after armed conflict breaks out.
Pearl River Film Groupโs crime drama โVโ maintained second place in its sophomore weekend, generating $14.4 million to push its cumulative Chinese earnings to $59.6 million. Directed by Han Yan (โLove Never Endsโ), the feature stars Tony Leung Ka Fai, Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai in a narrative chronicling an ambitious manโs rapid rise to power and the dark fallout that threatens his success.
Universalโs epic โThe Odysseyโ held third position, collecting $10 million in its third weekend. The film has amassed a cumulative gross of $87.4 million across mainland theaters.
Pearl Studioโs animated fantasy feature โAll Wishes Come True!โ placed fourth in its seventh weekend of release, taking in $7.9 million. Directed by Mu Zhengyang, the film has generated $270.3 million since its July 18 premiere.
Sonyโs superhero tentpole โSpider-Man: Brand New Dayโ rounded out the top five, adding $2.9 million in its fifth frame. The film has lifted its cumulative total to $225.7 million, remaining the yearโs top-earning Hollywood import in China.
Mainland Chinaโs overall weekend grosses reached $69.8 million, while the 2026 year-to-date revenue stands at $4.13 billion, down 28.1% from the same period in 2025.
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