China Box Office: ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’ Secures Sixth Weekend at No. 1 in Sluggish Frame

Dirty Monkeys’ war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” retained its grip on the top spot at the mainland China box office for the sixth consecutive weekend, taking in RMB28.1 million ($4.1 million) over the Sept. 18–20 frame, 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 feature has pushed its cumulative haul to $325.7 million since launching nationwide on Aug. 11. The narrative centers on a debt-strapped Chinese chef whose restaurant in a fictional Middle Eastern city becomes an unexpected sanctuary for local civilians and orphans when armed conflict breaks out.

Pearl River Film Group’s crime thriller “V” took second place in its fifth weekend, adding $2.8 million to lift its gross to $89.6 million. Directed by Han Yan (“Love Never Ends”), the gritty drama features an ensemble cast led by Tony Ka Fai Leung, Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai, following an ambitious man whose rapid ascent to power is shadowed by dark, lingering fallout.

Universal’s “The Odyssey” climbed back into third position, collecting $1.9 million in its fifth weekend. The epic has amassed $106.5 million across mainland theaters.

Pearl Studio’s animated fantasy comedy “All Wishes Come True!” moved to fourth place in its tenth frame, generating $1.7 million. Directed by Mu Zhengyang, the enduring mythological feature now has a cumulative total of $286.3 million.

Sony’s superhero spectacle “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” re-entered the top five, pulling in $800,000 in its eighth weekend and has lifted its cume to $232.5 million since rolling out on July 29, maintaining its status as the year’s top-earning international import in the territory.

Mainland China’s overall weekend grosses dropped to a quiet $15 million amid a pre-holiday lull ahead of the forthcoming National Day corridor. The 2026 year-to-date box office stands at $4.29 billion, down 29.2% compared to the same period in 2025