In a surprise summer twist, China’s historical massacre drama Dead to Rights isn’t just crushing it domestically—it’s reached the global stage, clinching the #3 spot worldwide, proving that Chinese cinema—especially with mega hits like Ne Zha—is getting the attention it deserves.
The film has been an absolute juggernaut in China for three consecutive weekends, adding a “casual” RMB 303.6 million (USD 42.2 million) to reach a staggering RMB 2.203 billion (USD 306 million) total.
Major numbers aside, director Shen Ao’s 137-minute masterpiece drops viewers into the 1937 Nanjing Massacre—one of history‘s most brutal Japanese war atrocities—following a postman who infiltrates a Japanese photo studio to secretly shelter Chinese civilians while documenting war crimes through his lens.
What’s particularly wild is how the film dominates amid an all-local top five in China, with animated feature Nobody holding the #2 spot—proof that China no longer needs Hollywood imports to drive theater attendance.
The star power of Detective Chinatown actor Liu Haoran and the film’s masterful balance of suspense with cultural resonance have created the perfect box office storm. While initially focused on its domestic audience, the film’s limited international rollout has already begun in Australia and New Zealand, with a U.S. limited release scheduled for August 15. Catch the epic trailer below.
Cover image via Flicks.
