Family drama 'Dear You' nears $251 million in China
'Dear You' opens in Australia and New Zealand on 25 June, followed by a North American launch on 26 June
- 'Dear You' to open in Australia, New Zealand on 25 June
- North America release follows on 26 June via CMC Pictures
- Film has earned over $251 million at China box office
"Dear You", the Teochew-dialect family drama that has become one of China's biggest theatrical stories of 2026, is heading to North America, Australia and New Zealand.
CMC Pictures has secured the theatrical distribution rights for these regions, according to Variety. The film opens in Australia and New Zealand on 25 June, followed by a North America launch on 26 June.
A word-of-mouth phenomenon in China
The acquisition extends the international reach of a film that has become a word-of-mouth phenomenon in China. "Dear You" opened to just $557,000 on its first day in Chinese cinemas, but has since accumulated more than $251 million at the local box office.
Rooted in qiaopi cultural history
The drama is filmed primarily in the Teochew dialect and is rooted in the cultural history of qiaopi — the letters and remittances exchanged between overseas Chinese migrants and the families they left behind. The story weaves together themes of migration, memory and intergenerational belonging.
It was produced on a modest budget, with no major stars or spectacle to drive ticket sales. The film stars Li Sitong, Wang Yantong, Wu Shaoqing, Zheng Runqi and Wang Xiaohui, with Thai actor Usha Seamkhum also appearing.
About CMC Pictures
CMC Pictures is one of the leading international distributors of Chinese-language films and the largest international theatrical distribution platform for Chinese cinema. The company has previously handled the overseas releases of more than 120 titles.
Its catalogue includes "The Wandering Earth" series, the "Ne Zha" series, the "Detective Chinatown" series, "Successor," "Lost in the Stars" and the "Ip Man" series.
Other international deals
The CMC deal follows a separate acquisition by Trinity CineAsia, covering the UK, Ireland and France. Meanwhile, the first wave of international territories orchestrated by Damai Entertainment takes in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei from 18 June.