China Box Office: ‘Dead to Rights’ Opens on Top as Local Films Dominate, ‘Fantastic Four’ Debuts at No. 5

China’s weekend box office continued to be driven by local-language releases, with four out of the top five titles produced locally.

“Dead to Rights” (China Film) opened at No. 1 with RMB315.1 million ($43.8 million) over the weekend, reaching a cumulative total of $57.2 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Directed by Shen Ao and written by Shen Ao, Zhang Ke, and Xu Luyang, the film stars Liu Haoran, Wang Guanghai, Gao Ye, Wang Xiao, Zhou You, and Yang Enyou. Set in 1937 during the Nanjing Massacre, it follows a group of civilians taking refuge in a Japanese-controlled photo studio. As they’re forced to develop images for the occupiers, they secretly document atrocities, risking their lives to preserve the truth.

Holding well in second place was “The Lychee Road”, which added $19.8 million in its second frame for a running total of $68.3 million. Produced by Aimmedia Pictures and directed by Dong Chengpeng, and scripted by Si’ao Dai and Yuyue Shen (based on Ma Boyong’s novel), the film follows petty official Li Shande (Dong Chengpeng) as he embarks on a nearly impossible mission: delivering fresh lychees across 5,000 miles during the Tang Dynasty to appease the imperial court’s demand.

Third place went to “The Stage,” which grossed $14.8 million for the weekend and has reached $24.4 million cumulatively. Directed and written by Chen Pei‑si, the film is set during the Republican era and focuses on a Peking opera troupe navigating personal hardship, audience expectations and political unrest. The ensemble cast includes Chen himself, Hou Xiting, Huang Bo, Jiang Wu, Yin Zheng, Yang Haoyu, and Yu Shaoqun.

In fourth, “The Legend of Hei 2” (Qianwanjian Media) earned $10.5 million, pushing its total to $33.9 million. The animated fantasy sequel is co-directed by MTJJ (Zhang Ping) and Gu Jie. It follows cat spirit Luo Xiaohei, who has been living peacefully in the human world for two years. When the Spirit Hall is attacked, he and his mentor Wuxian are called back into action to protect the fragile peace between humans and spirits.

Rounding out the top five was Disney’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which debuted with $4.3 million.

Weekend takings totaled $108.2 million. That brings China’s year-to-date box office total to $4.52 billion, representing a 14.1% increase over the same period in 2024.