The horror reboot of "Resident Evil," a joint venture from Constantin Film and Sony Pictures, successfully defended its crown at the mainland China box office during the October 16 to 18 frame. According to industry tracking data from Artisan Gateway, the terrifying feature pulled in RMB62.5 million, which translates to approximately $9.3 million, during its second full weekend in theaters.
Since rolling out in the late stretch of the lucrative Golden Week corridor on October 5, the film has steadily built momentum with local audiences. It has now amassed an impressive cumulative gross of $55.8 million in the territory. The horror reboot has managed to capture the attention of moviegoers looking for genre thrills, capitalizing on the established brand recognition of the long-running intellectual property while introducing fresh cinematic elements to mainland theater screens.
While the overall market experienced an expected post-holiday slowdown following the bustling national holidays, international and local titles continued to draw steady foot traffic. The mainland China overall weekend box office gross hit $26.7 million for the frame. Meanwhile, the broader box office picture for the year indicates a cooling trend, with the 2026 year-to-date total standing at $4.67 billion, which currently trails the performance from the same period in 2025 by 29.2%. Despite these broader year-on-year market contractions, holdover titles and veteran releases continued to perform admirably, led by a diverse mix of crime dramas, comedies, war epics, and historical animation.
Crime Procedural ‘Traces of Justice’ Maintains Second Place
New Classics Pictures’ gripping crime procedural drama "Traces of Justice" maintained its stronghold in the second position at the box office charts, grossing $6.8 million during its third weekend in release.
Directed by Chen Sicheng, widely recognized for his work on the popular "Detective Chinatown" franchise, and co-written alongside Zhang Ji and Yan Zijie, the period investigation epic has enjoyed a strong theatrical run. Since premiering on October 1, the multi-decade drama has generated a cumulative gross of $84.6 million, making it one of the standout domestic performers of the autumn season.
The film boasts a high-profile ensemble cast that has undoubtedly driven significant audience interest. It stars seasoned actors Zhang Yi, Ma Li, and Chen Minghao, and features notable guest appearances by younger star power including Karry Wang, Fan Chengcheng, and Chen Feiyu. Set against a sprawling historical backdrop, the narrative chronicles an elite public security detective as he unravelling major criminal mysteries based on real-world cases, blending procedural authenticity with sweeping dramatic storytelling.
Local Comedies and Epics Hold Strong in the Top Five
In third place, Beijing Joy Fun Pictures’ local body-swap comedy "Mr. & Mrs. Pardon" generated $4.1 million over the three-day weekend frame. Directed by Shen Chunyang and penned by writer Ma Duo, the satirical feature relies heavily on the chemistry of its lead cast. The film stars real-life comedic duo Shen Chunyang and Xiao Shenyang, alongside supporting comedic talents Jia Bing and Yu Yang. Since its high-profile premiere on October 1, the comedy has steadily added to its tally, lifting its cumulative gross to $50.9 million as audiences continue to seek out lighthearted domestic entertainment.
Meanwhile, Dirty Monkeys’ war comedy-drama "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" continued its remarkable, record-breaking theatrical journey, taking fourth place in its tenth weekend in release. The enduring summer blockbuster added another $900,000 to its massive ledger. Directed by Wen Muye and featuring an ensemble cast that includes Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif, the film has proven to have extraordinary box office legs. Since opening on August 11, the feature has pushed its cumulative haul to an astounding $354.3 million, cementing its status as one of the definitive commercial hits in the country for the year.
Rounding out the top five, Light Chaser Animation’s historical animated epic "Three Kingdoms: The Beginning" collected $800,000 over its two-day weekend frame, bringing its cumulative total to $14.7 million. Directed by Xie Junwei, who previously helmed "Chang’an," and written by Wang Wei, the film represents the ambitious first installment in Light Chaser’s planned historical trilogy. The narrative delves into the intense political turmoil of the late Eastern Han dynasty, focusing heavily on the chaotic battle for Luoyang and exploring the intertwined ambitions of young warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao as they navigate a fractured empire.
