From "Films Going North" to "Cinema Heading South": How Dear You Led China's Global Box-Office Wave

For some Hong Kong moviegoers, impressions of mainland Chinese cinema might still be anchored in the sweeping combat of The Battle at Lake Changjin or the sci-fi spectacle of The Wandering Earth. Yet between 2025 and 2026, a fresh "New Wave" composed of heartwarming slice-of-life films, mythological animation, and martial-arts epics is storming global theaters in a strikingly different fashion. No longer reliant solely on grand national narratives, these films are quietly redefining how Chinese cinema "goes global" through local emotional resonance, Eastern aesthetics, and genre innovation.

Dear You: How a Local Chaoshan Story Conquered Asia

In 2026, the heartwarming realist drama Dear You (《給阿嬤的情書》) became a landmark case study for Chinese cinema's overseas expansion. Rooted in the rural culture of Chaoshan and telling a story of nostalgia and familial ties among the Nanyang (Southeast Asian) Chinese diaspora, the film grossed over 2 billion RMB at the mainland box office and surpassed 100 million RMB overseas.

Using Hong Kong and Macau as its launchpad for international distribution, the film was jointly released by six major Hong Kong distributors. It grossed a combined HK$22.63 million across Hong Kong and Macau with 395,000 admissions—becoming the highest-grossing Chinese-language film in Hong Kong for 2026 and ranking third on Hong Kong's all-time mainland film box-office chart. In Singapore, the film accumulated 3.851 million SGD (equivalent to 20.34 million RMB), topping the weekly box-office charts. In Malaysia and Brunei, cumulative earnings crossed RM20.64 million (equivalent to 34.29 million RMB), making it the highest-grossing mainland Chinese live-action film in Malaysian box-office history.

Dear You grossed over 2 billion RMB, moving audiences at home and abroad. (Source: Baidu Baike)

Foreign critics noted that the film won over international audiences "through its authentic and tender storytelling," staying grounded in local life while showcasing Chinese culture. A regional story about a Chaoshan grandmother and her Southeast Asian relatives resonated across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam because it tapped into a universal emotion shared by the Chinese diaspora: nostalgia and family love. This strategy—taking root locally to move cross-cultural audiences—offers a powerful new roadmap for Chinese cinema going global.

From Ne Zha 2 to Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant: Diverse Genres Flourish

If Dear You demonstrates the global appeal of realist storytelling, Ne Zha 2 showcases the explosive international power of Eastern mythological animation. Released during the 2025 Chinese New Year season, the animated blockbuster not only set a staggering mainland record of over 15.4 billion RMB, but also delivered extraordinary overseas results—raking in more than $69 million globally, the highest overseas box-office performance on record for a purely mainland-produced film.

The film achieved an unprecedented distribution footprint, screening or securing theatrical releases in 70 countries—a dramatic jump from the 9 countries reached by its predecessor. In North America, it opened in 945 theaters and earned 20.97million,makingitthetop−grossinginternationalfilminNorthAmericaforthefirsthalfoftheyear.InSoutheastAsia,itbrokeChinese−languagebox−officerecordsinSingapore,Malaysia,andThailand—earningRM22millioninMalaysiawithinjustsixdaystobecomethecountry′shighest−grossingChinesefilm.InHongKong,cumulativeboxofficeshatteredHK50 million, claiming the top spot on Hong Kong’s all-time mainland film chart. China's iconic mythic figure Nezha is "stirring up the seas" in a whole new fashion, stunning the world once again with Eastern aesthetics.

Ne Zha 2 tops China’s all-time box office chart. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)

Wuxia action cinema also enjoyed a major resurgence abroad. During the 2026 Chinese New Year period, Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert—directed by Yuen Woo-ping and starring Wu Jing and Nicholas Tse—was released simultaneously across multiple countries and regions. Embodying the Eastern chivalric spirit (xia) and traditional martial arts, the film crossed $200 million in global box office, climbing to second place on the all-time global wuxia box-office chart, trailing only Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert was released simultaneously across multiple global markets. (Source: Baidu Baike)

More recently, Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant, a unique blend of anti-war narrative and culinary culture, tackled major geopolitical events in the Middle East through a Chinese lens paired with a global perspective. The film received an enthusiastic reception during international promotional tours, leading local theater chains to compete for import rights. Released sequentially across Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan since September, distribution plans for North America, Europe, and the Middle East are also underway.

Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant sparks widespread discussion overseas. (Source: Baidu Baike)

From Exporting Content to Exporting Systems

Chinese cinema's journey abroad is shifting from mere "content exports" toward "systemic global integration." Ying Xujun, President of CMC Pictures, noted that international co-productions have become a major trend. By leveraging a model of "Chinese leadership + international resources," this new era of Chinese cinema is marked by internationalized storytelling, industrialized production, and localized distribution.

At the narrative level, a new generation of Chinese directors is expanding their horizons. No longer confined to "Chinese stories strictly for Chinese contexts," they are placing Chinese characters directly into international settings to build emotional resonance with global audiences.

This shift is quietly rewriting the landscape of Chinese-language cinema. Twenty years ago, Hong Kong filmmakers brought their expertise and star power "North" in co-productions to tap into the mainland market. Today, mainland-produced films are bringing high industrial standards and Eastern narratives "South" to Hong Kong—and onward to the world. When a tender Chaoshan story like Dear You can move audiences across Asia, and when Chinese animation can break into mainstream North American theaters with Eastern aesthetics, it proves one thing: Chinese cinema is learning to tell its own stories in a language the whole world can understand.

Chinamaxxing

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At the inaugural Canton Fair in 1957, oil-paper umbrellas and handcrafted lacquerware were the prized hot-sellers. By the 140th edition in 2026, humanoid robots play table tennis with buyers, AI smart glasses translate languages in real time while snapping photos, and solar-paneled sun hats charge devices while streaming music. Over seventy years, the Canton Fair’s exhibition space has expanded from 9,600 square meters to 1.55 million square meters, while buyer attendance surged from 1,200 to over 300,000—solidifying its standing as China’s longest-running, largest, and most lucrative international trade expo.

A humanoid robot rallies in table tennis with an international buyer as crowds of overseas attendees gather behind the barrier to film. (Source: China News Service photo)

Overseas buyers learn about smart wearable products. (Source: Wen Wei Po photo)

By the close of Phase 1 (October 15–19, focused on Advanced Manufacturing), 189,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions had attended in person—a 13.3% year-on-year surge that set an all-time record. If one were to rewind global merchants' "shopping carts" back seven decades, what emerges is the definitive story of "Chinamaxxing"—the evolution of China's manufacturing sector from basic production to high-end intelligent innovation.

The Service Robotics Zone: A Daily Influx of 25,000 Visitors

The most popular destination at this year's expo was the Service Robotics Zone, drawing an average of 25,000 visits per day. High-demand booths required crowd-control barriers, with visitors queuing up to an hour to test medical-grade exoskeleton devices. The most touching moment belonged to Susanna, a stroke survivor and British buyer: assisted by exhibitors, she strapped into an exoskeleton suit, stood up, and took her first slow steps in years, visibly overcome with emotion.

Susanna wears an exoskeleton robotic suit, taking measured steps with mechanical assistance. (Source: China.com photo)

A Singaporean distributor tests an exoskeleton suit on the exhibition floor. (Source: Wen Wei Po photo)

Hassan Al Marzouqi, a buyer from Dubai, could hardly contain his excitement: "These robots are incredibly impressive—I’m ready to buy them on the spot. They have huge potential for educational use in schools and kindergartens back home."

This enthusiasm is backed by hard industrial data: in the first half of 2026, China’s robotics exports reached RMB 24.85 billion—a 359% year-on-year surge—with Chinese manufacturers accounting for over 97% of global humanoid robot shipments.

From "Selling Off-the-Shelf" to "On-Demand Co-Creation"

An even deeper shift is reshaping business models. Huang Jian, co-founder of Lingdu Intelligence, shared: "Clients in the Middle East pointed out their severe water scarcity, so we re-engineered our products." His company’s automated window-cleaning robots consume just one-twentieth of the water required by traditional manual methods; today, Middle Eastern orders account for roughly 30% of the firm's total export sales.

Shi Yonghong, Vice President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), highlighted the overarching trend: electromechanical exhibits occupied over 80% of Phase 1 booths, where smart technology, eco-friendly design, and turnkey system solutions have become the new norm for Chinese exports. This edition featured 17 dedicated zones for emerging future industries, showcasing breakthroughs in commercial drones, advanced energy storage, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and next-generation displays. Over 12,000 enterprises exhibited in Phase 1, including more than 6,000 designated high-tech firms, "Little Giant" enterprises, and single-champion manufacturers—an 8.2% year-on-year increase.

Treasure Hunting for Chinese Innovation: Two Supreme Gold Award Winners

The innovation galleries were equally captivating: according to CCTV News, a quadruped robotic panda that walks, jumps, and waves "melted" foreign buyers' hearts; plush AI companions became interactive chat partners; and high-precision 3D printing systems won wide praise for their craftsmanship.

A plush robotic panda from DOBOT Robotics walks on all fours in the main gallery as an international visitor films the demonstration. (Source: CRI Online photo)

This year's Canton Fair Design Awards (CF Awards) recognized 222 products across 174 enterprises, with two Supreme Gold Awards stealing the spotlight: the Zhangxue Motorcycles 820RR—a 135-horsepower superbike accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.81 seconds, whose racing variant currently competes in the World Superbike Championship with five stage victories; and the Zhixun Smart Capsule Gastroscopy System, which requires patients merely to swallow a smart capsule. Guided by a mobile app for magnetic positioning, the device automatically completes a comprehensive stomach scan in 20 minutes without intubation or discomfort.

Side profile of the red Zhangxue Motorcycles 820RR featuring aggressive aerodynamic fairings. (Source: Autohome photo)

The 98-Year-Old "Perfect Attendance Veteran" and a Mobile Payment Code

Human stories best illustrate the expo's enduring appeal. Xue Rongxin, a 98-year-old Singaporean buyer who has attended every single Canton Fair from the 1st to the 140th edition without missing one, is affectionately known as the fair's "Perfect Attendance Grandpa." At this edition, he tested robotic dexterous hands and tried on the latest AI smart glasses: "The Canton Fair is my university—there is something new to learn every single time."

98-year-old Xue Rongxin receives the "70 Years of Canton Fair to the World" commemorative badge and certificate. (Source: New Youth Net photo)

By day, international buyers evaluate cutting-edge robotics across exhibition halls; by night, they explore city streets using mobile payments. WeChat Pay data reveals that in September 2026, mobile scan-to-pay transactions by foreign users in Guangdong surged over 90% year-on-year, demonstrating how trade show traffic directly translates into local consumer spending.

From oil-paper umbrellas and lacquerware to heavy-duty industrial robotics, the 70-year transformation of the Canton Fair shopping cart reflects the evolution of Chinese industry. When an exoskeleton helps a British mother walk again, when Middle Eastern buyers inspire water-efficient cleaning robots, and when a 98-year-old veteran marvels at new technologies, the relationship between China and the world has fundamentally evolved. They are no longer merely buyers and sellers, but co-creators defining the standard of global product excellence. This is the commercial essence of Chinamaxxing: it is not simply that the world needs Chinese products, but that global progress depends on the relentless iteration of Chinese innovation.