Dirty Monkeys’ war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” 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, 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 production has accumulated $232.2 million since launching nationwide on Aug. 11. The story tracks a Chinese chef who moves to the Middle East to clear family debts by running a restaurant, only to see the venue become a community refuge when armed conflict breaks out across the region.
Pearl River Film Group’s crime drama “V” debuted in second place, pulling in $18.9 million over the three-day weekend frame. Bolstered by early screenings following its Aug. 19 premiere, the feature has reached a cumulative total of $30.7 million. Directed by Han Yan (“Love Never Ends”), the film features a heavyweight ensemble cast led by Tony Ka Fai Leung, Zhu Yilong, Tan Jianci, and Kara Wai. The narrative follows an ambitious figure who uses relentless daring and sharp enterprise to rise through the ranks and taste immense success, only to see dark consequences and long-buried shadows gather to threaten his triumph.
