The war comedy-drama maintained the top spot at the mainland China box office for the weekend of Aug. 21–23, while the crime drama “V” debuted in second place.
Key facts
- •“Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” earned $43.9 million over the Aug. 21–23 weekend.
- •The crime drama “V” debuted with $18.9 million in its opening weekend.
- •“All Wishes Come True!” has reached a cumulative total of $255.7 million since its July 18 release.
- •Mainland China’s 2026 year-to-date box office revenue is $4 billion.
- •Year-to-date box office revenue in China is down 28.6% compared to 2025.
The war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” remained the top-grossing film in mainland China for the weekend of Aug. 21–23, earning $43.9 million. Directed by Wen Muye, the film has reached a total of $232.2 million since its Aug. 11 release. Meanwhile, the crime drama “V” opened in second place with $18.9 million in its debut weekend.
By the numbers
Top Performers and New Releases
“Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” starring Shen Teng and Jiang Qiming, follows a Chinese chef in the Middle East whose restaurant becomes a refuge during armed conflict. The second-place debut, “V,” directed by Han Yan and starring Tony Ka Fai Leung and Zhu Yilong, centers on an ambitious man facing the consequences of his rise to success. The film has earned $30.7 million including early screenings.
Market Performance
Universal’s “The Odyssey” placed third with $15.9 million, bringing its total to $68.7 million. The animated film “All Wishes Come True!” earned $9.8 million in its sixth weekend, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” added $4.6 million. Mainland China’s total weekend box office reached $103.1 million, with year-to-date revenue at $4 billion, marking a 28.6% decline compared to the same period in 2025.
Timeline
- July 18All Wishes Come True! debuted in theaters.
- July 29Spider-Man: Brand New Day was released.
- Aug. 11Once Upon a Time in the Middle East launched nationwide.
- Aug. 19V held its premiere.
- Aug. 21–23The weekend box office period for the reported figures.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Variety.
