'Resident Evil' Holds China Box Office Crown as Market Trails 2025

By Daniel Okafor

"Resident Evil," the Constantin Film and Sony Pictures horror reboot, held first place at the mainland China box office. It pulled $9.3 million over the Oct. 16–18 weekend, according to box office data firm Artisan Gateway.

That's RMB 62.5 million — China's domestic currency, the renminbi — in its second full weekend on Chinese soil. The film's cumulative gross since its Oct. 5 late-Golden Week rollout sits at $55.8 million.

What does the post-holiday frame look like?

The mainland weekend total reached $26.7 million. The 2026 year-to-date box office has climbed to $4.67 billion. That figure trails the same window last year by 29.2%. The post-holiday quiet is a known pattern, but the depth of the gap gives pause.

Who else cracked the top five?

New Classics Pictures' crime procedural "Traces of Justice" held second. It earned $6.8 million in its third weekend. The film has cumed $84.6 million since its Oct. 1 debut.

Director Chen Sicheng, of "Detective Chinatown" pedigree, co-wrote the screenplay with Zhang Ji and Yan Zijie. The cast features Zhang Yi, Ma Li, and Chen Minghao. Karry Wang, Fan Chengcheng, and Chen Feiyu make guest turns. The multi-decade story tracks an elite public security detective unravelling real-case criminal mysteries.

Beijing Joy Fun Pictures' body-swap comedy "Mr. & Mrs. Pardon" settled for third. It added $4.1 million over the three-day frame. The satirical feature has cumed $50.9 million since Oct. 1. Shen Chunyang directs and co-stars, with Xiao Shenyang, Jia Bing, and Yu Yang rounding out the leads. Ma Duo wrote the screenplay.

Which holdover still pulls weight?

Dirty Monkeys' war comedy-drama "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" claimed fourth in its tenth weekend. It added $900,000. The cumulative gross since its Aug. 11 opening now totals $354.3 million. Wen Muye directs, with Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, and Omar Sherif headlining.

That's a genuine summer standout. The film now sits among the year's biggest commercial hits. Few domestic titles match that haul in this market.

Light Chaser Animation's historical epic "Three Kingdoms: The Beginning" rounded out the top five. It took $800,000 over the two-day frame, lifting its cume (industry shorthand for cumulative gross) to $14.7 million. The film opens a planned three-part cycle.

Xie Junwei, the director behind "Chang'an," helms. Wang Wei wrote the screenplay. The story covers late Eastern Han political turmoil and the battle for Luoyang. It focuses on the intertwined ambitions of young warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

What is the wider signal?

The market now waits for the next tentpole. The 29.2% YTD deficit against 2025 suggests domestic distributors need a strong November–December finish. Golden Week closed soft. The question is whether the calendar can recover before year-end, or whether the gap widens further.