According to data from Artisan Gateway, the war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” from Dirty Monkeys held onto the No. 1 position at the mainland China box office during the Aug. 21–23 weekend, taking in RMB298.8 million ($43.9 million) in its second weekend of release.
The film's cumulative gross after ten days reached approximately RMB1.17 billion ($172 million), making it one of the top-grossing local releases of the summer season. The movie, directed by a relatively new filmmaker, has resonated with audiences for its blend of humor and poignant commentary on conflict.
In second place, the domestic animated feature “Chang'an” continued its strong run, earning RMB87.5 million ($12.9 million) in its fourth weekend, bringing its total to over RMB1.5 billion ($220 million). The film, which reimagines the life of poet Li Bai, has become a surprise hit.
Hollywood's “The Meg 2: The Trench” slipped to third place with RMB46.2 million ($6.8 million) in its third weekend, pushing its China total to RMB780 million ($114 million). The overall weekend box office was estimated at RMB520 million ($76 million), a slight dip from the previous week.
