Once Upon a Time in the Middle East surpasses $300 million at China box office

The war comedy-drama ‘Once Upon a Time in the Middle East’, directed by Wen Muye, has surpassed $300 million at the mainland China box office. The film has held the top position for four consecutive weekends, most recently grossing approximately $12.1 million during the September 4–6 period.

Starring Shen Teng as a debt-ridden Chinese chef, the film follows his journey to a fictional Middle Eastern city where his restaurant becomes a sanctuary for civilians and orphans amidst regional conflict. The narrative uses the lens of authentic Chinese cooking to deliver an anti-war message, addressing themes of wartime atrocities and diplomacy.

Other notable performers in the film include Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif. The film's success follows the director's previous work, ‘Dying to Survive’.