Director Wen Muye’s war comedy-drama, “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” maintained its dominance at the mainland China box office for the sixth consecutive weekend. According to data from Artisan Gateway, the film earned RMB28.1 million (approximately $4.1 million) during the September 18–20 period.
Since its nationwide release on August 11, the hit feature has accumulated a cumulative gross of $325.7 million. The film stars Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif. Its plot follows a Chinese chef burdened by debt who finds his restaurant in a fictional Middle Eastern city becoming a refuge for local civilians and orphans when armed conflict erupts.
The overall market experienced a significant slowdown, with mainland China’s total weekend gross dropping to a quiet $15 million. This dip reflects a pre-holiday lull ahead of the upcoming National Day corridor. For 2026, the year-to-date box office stands at $4.29 billion, representing a 29.2% decline compared to the same period in 2025.
In second place, Pearl River Film Group’s crime thriller “V” entered its fifth weekend with an additional $2.8 million, bringing its total to $89.6 million. Directed by Han Yan and featuring an ensemble cast including Tony Ka Fai Leung, Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai, the film chronicles an ambitious man’s rise to power and the dark consequences that follow.
Universal’s epic “The Odyssey” climbed back into third position, earning $1.9 million in its fifth weekend and pushing its domestic gross to $106.5 million.
Pearl Studio’s animated fantasy comedy “All Wishes Come True!” secured fourth place in its tenth frame, generating $1.7 million. Directed by Mu Zhengyang, the mythological feature has now amassed $286.3 million since its release.
Sony’s superhero film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” re-entered the top five, taking in $800,000 over its eighth weekend. With a cumulative total of $232.5 million since its July 29 launch, it remains the highest-grossing international import in the territory this year.
The fact that a $4 million weekend is considered ‘dominant’ in such a sluggish market says everything. Is the National Day corridor actually going to save the quarter?
A thirty percent drop in year-to-date revenue is really concerning. Does this signal a permanent shift in how Chinese audiences consume cinema, or is it just a slow summer effect?
It is honestly wild that a comedy-drama about a chef in a war zone can hold the top spot for six straight weekends. What a strange time for box office numbers.