Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues to dominate the Chinese box office, holding the No. 1 position during the August 7–9 weekend. Sony’s Marvel blockbuster earned RMB 196.6 million ($28.9 million) in its second full weekend.
The film has now accumulated approximately $185.4 million in China since opening on July 29. Its strong performance adds to an already record-breaking global run, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day becoming one of 2026’s biggest releases.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Makes Strong Preview Debut
Chinese drama Once Upon a Time in the Middle East climbed into second place through preview screenings, earning $15 million before its nationwide release. Directed by Wen Muye, the film stars Shen Teng as Xu Fu, a chef who travels to the Middle East to work off his family’s debts before conflict threatens the restaurant he helps establish.
The movie officially opened nationwide on August 11, positioning it as one of the major domestic challengers to Hollywood releases. Its strong preview performance reflects the continued strength of Chinese films in the local market.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey also appeared strongly in previews, generating $6.9 million and reaching $7.6 million overall ahead of its wider Chinese release. The film has already crossed $1 billion worldwide and is currently Nolan’s highest-grossing movie.
Meanwhile, animated fantasy All Wishes Come True! earned $20.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its China total to $210.6 million.
China’s overall box office reached $97.3 million for the weekend. Despite the strength of individual releases, the market remains down year over year, with 2026 revenue standing at approximately $3.57 billion, 31.8% below the same period in 2025.
