China's 2026 box office (including pre-sales) has surpassed 20.3 billion yuan (around $3 billion) as of July 21, with 22 films passing the 100 million yuan mark and the word-out-mouth hit Dear You crossing 2.1 billion yuan (about $310.4 million) at the global box office.

The record-breaking performance of the Guangdong-produced film highlights the southern province's strong showing as one of the country's leading film production hubs.

Local story resonates with audiences at home and abroad

Among Guangdong's blockbuster productions, Dear You has become the year's standout success.

The film follows a young urbanite who returns to his ancestral village and discovers a collection of old letters that reshapes his understanding of his grandmother's past.

Made on a relatively modest budget and featuring extensive dialogue in the Chaoshan dialect, the film has defied industry expectations by earning more than 2.1 billion yuan worldwide.

After earning widespread acclaim during its theatrical run in China, the film has gained momentum overseas after opening in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and other international markets. In Singapore, screenings in the original Chaoshan dialect sold out within 90 minutes of ticket sales opening, while the film went on to become the country's highest-grossing Asian film of the year.

Its emotional portrayal of family ties and overseas Chinese heritage has resonated strongly with audiences across Southeast Asia, particularly among ethnic Chinese communities.

Industry analysts say the film challenges the long-held assumption that only big-budget productions with star-studded casts and massive marketing campaigns can generate blockbuster returns.

Instead, they argue, Dear You demonstrates that authentic storytelling, rooted in everyday life and local culture, remains one of the strongest drivers of commercial success in the evolving film market.

Guangdong tops both ticket sales and film production

Home to Dear You, Guangdong remained the country's largest box office market, generating 2.91 billion yuan (about $430.5 million) in ticket sales, while films produced in the province grossed a combined 5.32 billion yuan (around $786.7 million), accounting for about 26.2% of the national total.

Six Guangdong-produced titles have crossed the 100 million yuan threshold this year, spanning animation, suspense, comedy and feature. Alongside Dear You, the list also includes Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector, The Fire Raven, The Caged Butterfly, Kung Fu Soccer and A Part of Me.

The performance marks what industry observers describe as Guangdong's first "double crown" year – leading China in both movie consumption and the commercial success of locally produced films.

Long-term investment fuels industry-wide growth

The province's breakout performance reflects years of policy support aimed at building a complete film industry ecosystem rather than a short-term box office surge.

In May 2025, Guangdong introduced a package of 15 measures to boost the high-quality development of its film and television industry, covering every stage of production – from script development and filming to distribution, exhibition and intellectual property commercialization.

The provincial initiative has been reinforced by more than 80 supporting measures introduced by cities and counties across Guangdong. Within months, authorities had allocated 160 million yuan (around $23.6 million) in production subsidies, distribution incentives and post-release rewards for outstanding film and television projects.

The policy incentives have attracted approximately 1,700 new film and television enterprises with registered capital exceeding 5 million yuan established in the province, including a growing number of leading production firms.

Industry infrastructure has expanded alongside financial support. Guangdong has built a province-level filming service network linking provincial and municipal authorities, providing streamlined production services, location resources and administrative support. Over the past year, the platform has served 344 production teams, facilitated 258  shoots, catalogued more than 650 filming locations and over 20 professional production bases, while reducing approval times for filming permits and business registration by 50% to 70%.

Talent development has also become a key pillar of the province's strategy. Through its Star Program, Guangdong has funded emerging filmmakers and supported low-and-mid-budget productions. Between 2024 and 2025, the initiative backed 20 feature films, several of which were selected for major domestic and international film festivals.

The director of Dear You, Lan Hongchun, recently won Best Director at the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization International Film Festival, highlighting the growing international recognition of Guangdong's new generation of filmmakers.