China Box Office: ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’ Stays on Top

Dirty Monkeys’ war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” held onto the No. 1 position at the mainland China box office during the Aug. 21–23 weekend, taking in RMB298.8 million ($43.9 million) in its second weekend of release, according to data from Artisan Gateway.

Directed by Wen Muye (“Dying to Survive”) and starring Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif, the hit production has accumulated $232.2 million since launching nationwide on Aug. 11. The story tracks a Chinese chef who moves to the Middle East to clear family debts by running a restaurant, only to see the venue become a community refuge when armed conflict breaks out across the region.

Pearl River Film Group’s crime drama “V” debuted in second place, pulling in $18.9 million over the three-day weekend frame. Bolstered by early screenings following its Aug. 19 premiere, the feature has reached a cumulative total of $30.7 million. Directed by Han Yan (“Love Never Ends”), the film features a heavyweight ensemble cast led by Tony Ka Fai Leung, Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai. The narrative follows an ambitious figure who uses relentless daring and sharp enterprise to rise through the ranks and taste immense success, only to see dark consequences and long-buried shadows gather to threaten his triumph.

Universal’s epic “The Odyssey” took third position in its sophomore frame, collecting $15.9 million for a total of $68.7 million.

Pearl Studio’s animated fantasy feature “All Wishes Come True!” moved to fourth place in its sixth weekend, adding $9.8 million. Directed by Mu Zhengyang, the enduring family hit has amassed $255.7 million since its July 18 debut.

Sony’s superhero blockbuster “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” rounded out the top five, generating $4.6 million in its fourth full weekend, lifting its cumulative total in China to $219.9 million since rolling out on July 29.

Mainland China’s overall weekend grosses reached $103.1 million, while the 2026 year-to-date revenue stands at $4 billion, down 28.6% from the same period in 2025.