Marvel Studios has reclaimed the spotlight at the mainland China box office, as Avengers: Endgame Encore captured the number one position during the September 25–27 weekend frame. According to data from box office tracking agency Artisan Gateway, the re-release event pulled in RMB83.8 million, translating to roughly $12.5 million over the three-day weekend. With this latest injection of ticket sales, the monumental superhero epic’s cumulative lifetime gross in the lucrative Chinese market has now climbed to an impressive $647.8 million, cementing its status as one of the most culturally and commercially significant Hollywood imports in the region’s modern cinematic history.
The weekend victory comes during a traditionally quiet corridor at the box office, as audiences and exhibitors alike prepare for the bustling Golden Week holiday period. Despite the slower pre-holiday frame, mainland China’s overall weekend grosses still managed to reach a respectable $39.9 million. However, the broader theatrical landscape continues to face challenges when viewed through a year-to-date lens. Total box office earnings for 2026 currently stand at $4.34 billion, marking a 29.4% decline compared to the exact same period in 2025. Even with the market contraction, holdover titles and fresh local releases continue to drive notable foot traffic to theaters across the country.
Local Hits and Long-Running Favorites Maintain Momentum
While Marvel took the weekend crown, domestic productions continue to occupy significant real estate in the upper tiers of the box office chart. Moving down to second place after a remarkably resilient and extended run at the summit is Dirty Monkeys’ war comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in the Middle East. In its seventh weekend of release, the late-summer blockbuster collected $7.6 million, pushing its massive cumulative total to $341.2 million since rolling out to audiences on August 11.
Directed by Wen Muye, whose previous work includes the acclaimed hit Dying to Survive, Once Upon a Time in the Middle East features a prominent ensemble cast led by Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif. The narrative centers on a Chinese chef operating in a fictional Middle Eastern city. When regional armed conflict erupts around them, the protagonist makes the courageous decision to transform his restaurant into a safe haven, providing food and sanctuary for local orphans and civilians caught in the crossfire. The film’s enduring popularity highlights mainland audiences’ continued appetite for emotionally resonant storytelling combined with large-scale production values.
Meanwhile, Pearl Studio’s animated fantasy comedy All Wishes Come True! demonstrated exceptional staying power, holding firmly onto the third position in its eleventh weekend in theaters. The animated feature generated $4.6 million over the frame, bringing its remarkable cumulative haul to $296 million since its July 18 premiere. Directed by Mu Zhengyang, the film has proven to be a major commercial success for Pearl Studio, capturing the imagination of family audiences throughout the summer and well into the autumn season.
New Debuts and Crime Thrillers Round Out the Top Five
In addition to strong holdovers, the weekend frame welcomed fresh blood to the theatrical charts. Riverrun Grace Film’s crime comedy The Old Fox made its debut in fourth place, pulling in $3.6 million during its opening frame. Directed by Li Taige, the film stars veteran actor Yu Qian as a retiring police officer who stumbles upon a series of suspicious anomalies while investigating what initially appears to be a routine theft. As the veteran investigator digs deeper, his inquiry leads him straight to a ruthless corporate chairman portrayed by veteran screen icon Tony Leung Ka-fai. The ensuing cat-and-mouse game forms the backbone of a tense battle of wits between two seasoned cinematic operators.
Rounding out the top five, Pearl River Film Group’s crime thriller V maintained a strong presence in its sixth weekend of release, taking in $2.8 million to lift its cumulative gross to $96 million. Directed by Han Yan, whose previous credits include Love Never Ends, the gritty thriller features an elite ensemble cast led by Tony Leung Ka-fai—marking a double appearance in the weekly top five—alongside Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai. The narrative follows an ambitious man’s rapid and ruthless ascent to power, closely examining the lingering, high-stakes consequences that ultimately threaten to unravel his success.
As the industry looks ahead, the conclusion of this quiet framing period sets the stage for the highly anticipated Golden Week holiday, a traditionally lucrative window that typically injects substantial revenue into the Chinese film market and alters the box office hierarchy significantly.
