Trinity CineAsia has obtained all rights for the U.K., Ireland, and France to the Teochew-language film Dear You, which has become a standout at China's 2026 box office.
U.K. and France Release
The U.K. distributor acquired the film from Hugoeast and Damai Entertainment, setting a British and Irish cinema release for June 26, with France following. The announcement coincided with the Shanghai International Film Festival's opening on June 12.
China's Box Office Sensation
Premiering in China on April 30 without much initial attention, Dear You was produced for 14 million RMB (approximately $2 million) and predominantly stars non-professional actors from Chaoshan. Six weeks after release, its earnings hit RMB 1.69 billion (around $250 million), about 120 times its budget, according to Maoyan. This makes it the second-highest grossing film in China this year, after Han Han’s Pegasus 3.
Continued Success and Reception
On its 44th day, Dear You outperformed the opening of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, as per Maoyan. The platform projects a final domestic total of over RMB 1.8 billion ($266 million). Directed by Lan Hongchun, the film garners a 9.2 Douban score from over 700,000 reviews, marking a high for Chinese cinema in the past decade.
Exploring Chaoshan Heritage
The film draws on Chaoshan culture from eastern Guangdong, focusing on a grandson’s quest in Thailand for his long-lost grandfather. Lan spent three years interviewing over 120 elderly Chaoshan residents, drawing the plot from their stories. Thai actress Usha Seamkhum, known for her role in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, makes a special appearance, highlighting her Teochew-Thai roots.
Cedric Behrel of Trinity CineAsia praised Dear You as a significant box-office success from China, emphasizing its cultural impact on Asian communities. The acquisition complements Trinity's recent Chinese film slate, including Ne Zha 2 and Zhang Yimou’s Scare Out. The film's international rollout, handled by Damai, starts June 18 in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, with North American and Australian releases anticipated.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/shanghai-china-box-office-phenomenon-dear-you-uk-france-release-1236620257/
