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 after CMC Pictures secured the theatrical distribution rights. The film opens in Australia and New Zealand on June 25, followed by a North America launch on June 26. The acquisition extends the international reach of a film that has become a word-of-mouth phenomenon in the Middle Kingdom. Opening to just $557,000 on its first day in Chinese cinemas, Dear You has since accumulated more than $251 million at the local box office. Filmed primarily in the Teochew dialect, the drama 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, and was produced on a modest budget with no major stars or spectacle to drive ticket sales. The picture stars Li Sitong, Wang Yantong, Wu Shaoqing, Zheng Runqi and Wang Xiaohui, with Thai actor Usha Seamkhum also appearing. CMC Pictures, one of the leading international distributors of Chinese-language films and the largest international theatrical distribution platform for Chinese cinema, has previously handled the overseas releases of more than 120 titles. Its catalog includes The Wandering Earth series, the Ne Zha series, the Detective Chinatown series, Successor, Lost in the Stars and the Ip Man series. The CMC deal follows a separate acquisition by Trinity CineAsia covering the U.K., Ireland and France, while the first wave of international territories orchestrated by Damai Entertainment takes in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei from June 18. Personally, I think this is a fascinating development for the Chinese film industry. It demonstrates the power of word-of-mouth marketing and the ability of a film to transcend cultural barriers. What makes this particularly fascinating is the film's focus on the qiaopi tradition, which is a unique and often overlooked aspect of Chinese cultural history. In my opinion, this film is a testament to the diversity and richness of Chinese cinema. It shows that a film can be both commercially successful and artistically meaningful, without relying on major stars or spectacle. From my perspective, the international distribution deal is a strategic move for CMC Pictures. It not only expands the reach of the film but also positions CMC as a leading player in the global film market. What many people don't realize is that the film's success in China is a result of its authentic storytelling and emotional resonance with audiences. If you take a step back and think about it, this raises a deeper question about the role of independent films in the Chinese film industry. A detail that I find especially interesting is the film's use of the Teochew dialect, which is a minority language in China. What this really suggests is that the film's success is not just about the story, but also about the language and cultural identity it represents. This is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural diversity in the film industry.
