'Once Upon a Time in the Middle East' serves up flavorful opening

The Chinese film Once Upon a Time in the Middle East hit cinemas nationwide on August 11 after three days of advance screenings, offering a heartfelt take on war, peace and human kindness through the unlikely lens of food.

Rather than relying on grand battle scenes, the film is set almost entirely in a small Chinese restaurant in war-torn Iraq in 2003. Played by Shen Teng, Xu Fu is a chef looking to make a living abroad and find a quiet life. But when war suddenly erupts, he and restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, played by Jiang Qiming, choose to keep the kitchen running, serving authentic Chinese dishes and creating a safe haven for local civilians and children amid the chaos.

The film has already made a strong debut, earning over 180 million yuan ($26.6 million) on its opening day, according to industry tracker Beacon Pro. The movie is also adding momentum to a booming summer season. China's 2026 summer holiday box office, running from June 1 to August 31, has already exceeded 8.7 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), while total box office for the year has topped 24.4 billion yuan ($3.6 billion). 

With more highly anticipated titles, including Once Upon a Time in the Middle East and The Odyssey, hitting theaters, China's summer holiday movie season is expected to reach another peak.