China Box Office: Chen Kaige’s ‘The Volunteers: Peace at Last’ Opens at No. 1

China Film Group’s patriotic war film “The Volunteers: Peace at Last” topped the China box office over the Oct. 3–5 weekend, earning RMB168.2 million ($23.4 million), according to Artisan Gateway.

The film, which commemorates the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army entering the Korean War, stars Wu Jing and Zhang Ziyi and marks the third chapter in Chen Kaige’s “The Volunteers” trilogy. Its cumulative total now stands at $51.3 million. It released during China’s National Day holiday week, collections during which were not as robust in previous years. The film placed fourth on the global box office chart, per Comscore.

Changying Film Group’s “Evil Unbound,” directed by Zhao Linshan, moved to second place with $18.9 million. The World War II drama, centered on Japan’s Unit 731 biological warfare program, has grossed $248.5 million after three weeks on release. The film placed fifth on the global box office chart.

“A Writer’s Odyssey 2,” a sequel to Lu Yang’s 2021 fantasy action hit, debuted in third position with $15.5 million. The Huace Pictures film continues the meta-narrative of intertwining fiction and reality, with Lei Jiayin reprising his role alongside Dong Zijian and Yang Mi. The film has collected $31.3 million since opening midweek. The film placed sixth on the global box office chart.

“Sound of Silence” (Lian Ray Pictures) debuted fourth with $12.6 million and a running total of $14.7 million. The film is directed by Wan Li and stars Tan Jianci as a lawyer from a deaf family who takes on a high-profile fraud case affecting the hearing-impaired community, alongside Lan Xiya, Wang Ge, Wang Yanhui, Chi Peng and Pan Binlong. The film placed ninth on the global box office chart.

“Row to Win” (PMF Pictures) placed fifth on $11.7 million, lifting its cume to $23.9 million. Directed by Ma Lin and starring Huang Bo, Fan Chengcheng, Yin Tao and Li Jiaqi, the comedy-drama follows a coastal-town family – led by a once-tough patriarch – who rally together in hard times and push for a comeback. The film placed 10th on the global box office chart.

Nationwide weekend box office totaled $99.9 million, bringing China’s 2025 year-to-date haul to $6.012 billion, up 19.1% versus the same period last year.