The crime procedural “Traces of Justice” claimed the top spot at the mainland China box office during the Oct. 2–4 National Day weekend, earning RMB208.9 million ($31.2 million), according to Artisan Gateway data released Thursday.
Released on Oct. 1 to kick off the Golden Week holiday corridor, the film—also known as “Sherlock of China”—has generated a cumulative total of $41.8 million. Directed by Chen Sicheng, known for the “Detective Chinatown” franchise, and co-written with Ji Zhang, the movie features an ensemble cast including Zhang Yi, Li Ma, Li Xuejian, Karry Wang, Fan Chengcheng, and Chen Feiyu. The period drama follows a legendary detective and his team as they solve complex criminal cases while documenting the evolution of China’s public security apparatus across several decades.
In second place, Beijing Joy Fun Pictures’ satirical comedy “Mr. & Mrs. Pardon” debuted with $17.3 million over the weekend. Since its Oct. 1 release, the film has accumulated $24.5 million. Directed by Shen Chunyang and written by Ma Duo, the family comedy stars real-life couple Shen Chunyang and Xiao Shenyang, alongside Jia Bing and Yu Yang. The plot centers on a middle-aged married couple facing domestic monotony and marital strife, whose lives descend into slapstick chaos after an unexpected body-swap event.
The war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” held third place for its eighth weekend, adding $4.4 million to bring its total to $349.9 million. Directed by Wen Muye and starring Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif, the film premiered on Aug. 11 and follows a Chinese chef whose restaurant in a fictional Middle Eastern city becomes a civilian refuge during armed conflict.
Pearl Studio’s animated fantasy “All Wishes Come True!” placed fourth in its 12th weekend, grossing $4.3 million. Directed by Mu Zhengyang, the movie surpassed the RMB2 billion mark with a cumulative total of $302.2 million since its July 18 release.
Rounding out the top five, CMC Pictures’ crime action thriller sequel “Go for Broke 2” opened with $4.2 million across its two-day launch. Written and directed by Marc Ma, the film stars Isabella Leong, Wen Junhui, and Sammo Hung. The story follows a bereaved mother who teams up with another grieving parent to hunt down a criminal syndicate responsible for harming children.
Mainland China’s overall box office reached $74.1 million over the weekend as theatrical activity accelerated for the National Day holiday. Year-to-date revenue stands at $4.52 billion, representing a 29.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.
Is it just me, or does every National Day holiday release feel like a remake of Detective Chinatown lately?
Karry Wang in a serious crime drama? I guess studios are finally casting him for roles that actually show his acting range.
Interesting that the overall box office is down nearly 30% despite this hit. The industry seems to be struggling financially.