Dear You film expands international release following Chinese box-office success

The Teochew-language film “Dear You” has emerged as a major box-office success in China, grossing approximately 269 million yuan ($40 million) to become the country’s second-highest-grossing film of the year. Shot primarily in a southern Chinese dialect, the low-budget production follows a grandson from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong as he travels to Thailand to find his grandfather, exploring themes of migration and the history of Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.

Following successful screenings in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand, the film is scheduled for a North American release on September 4 via the Texas-based distributor Well Go USA. The film’s international expansion is viewed by experts as part of a broader trend of Chinese cultural exports and soft power. While the film focuses on universal themes of family and debt, its success has also sparked discussions regarding the role of Chinese cinema in shaping perceptions of the country among overseas communities.