China’s weekend box office held steady as Nanjing Massacre drama Dead to Rights led for another frame, while big-budget war rescue film Dongji Rescue opened in third and the animated title Nobody remained in second. Industry tallies put the three-day market total at roughly $126 million, with Nobody at an estimated $36.3 million after 10 days in release and Dongji Rescue starting at about $27.6 million. Year-to-date grosses reached roughly $4.99 billion, up double digits from the same point last year.
Dead to Rights, directed by Shen Ao and released July 25, has become the season’s pace-setter. Ticketing data indicates the film has cleared 2.22 billion yuan in mainland receipts, positioning it among the summer’s strongest performers as the holiday corridor nears its final weeks. The film dramatizes civilians’ efforts to document atrocities from inside a Nanjing photo studio, drawing sustained turnout beyond its opening surge.
Dongji Rescue, from directors Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang and starring Zhu Yilong and Wu Lei, recounts the 1942 rescue of British prisoners of war after the Lisbon Maru sinking, with Chinese fishermen risking their lives amid wartime blockade. Festival and local press materials emphasized large-scale water work and historical reconstruction, and international rollout is planned following the Mainland launch.
The market backdrop remains robust. Official trackers reported the summer corridor (June through August) crossed 7 billion yuan last week, reflecting strong play across local-language releases and providing momentum for late-season debuts. Against that environment, Dead to Rights continues to command premium screen share, while Dongji Rescue enters competition for large-format slots and evening shows as schedules rebalance after its first weekend.
