Shenzhen-produced 'Dear You' a box office hit

The Shenzhen-produced word-of-mouth hit “Dear You” continued its daily box office dominance for an eighth day on May 17, as revenue forecasts for the film continued to rise.

A low-budget film shot in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect, directed by Lan Hongchun and starring first-time actors, the film had grossed 500 million yuan (US$72.8 million) by 8 p.m. on May 17, according to film data platform Maoyan.

Released on April 30, it has outperformed all other May Day holiday releases, including the twist-filled crime thriller “Vanishing Point” and the Hong Kong-set franchise entry “Cold War 1994.”

Film data platforms Beacon and Maoyan have further raised their final box office projections for the film to approximately 1.2 billion yuan and 1.3 billion yuan, respectively, up from earlier forecasts of over 1 billion yuan.

“Dear You” draws on the history of qiaopi — the letters and remittances sent home by earlier generations of overseas Chinese. UNESCO added the qiaopi archives to its Memory of the World Register in 2013.

Scenes from “Dear You.”

The film follows a series of letters written to Ye Shurou, a grandmother who spent decades waiting for her husband, Zheng Musheng, while her grandson searches for the truth behind their family’s past. The journey gradually uncovers the hidden story of Xie Nanzhi, a Thai woman of Teochew descent who was Zheng’s sworn sister and trusted confidante.

After Zheng's death, Xie quietly supported Ye Shurou from afar, secretly writing letters and sending money in his name for 18 years. Years later, Xie’s adopted son, Xie Zehua, reads those letters aloud to Grandma Ye, revealing a long-buried story.

Featuring authentic Teochew dialect throughout, the film weaves together local customs, family bonds, and the historical experiences of overseas Chinese communities.

Lan Hongchun (L) and the leading cast members meet the audience at a cinema in Shenzhen. Photo by Chen Jianhua

Reportedly produced on a budget of just over 10 million yuan, the film has emerged as one of China’s biggest cinematic surprises of 2026. It is widely hailed for its emotional authenticity, grounded storytelling, and unusually convincing performances from its first-time actors.

On China’s review platform Douban, the drama currently holds a score of 9.1 out of 10, making it one of the highest-rated Chinese films in recent years and one of the best-reviewed domestic releases of the past decade.

Beyond general audiences, many showbiz insiders and celebrities have endorsed the film. Actors including Jia Ling, Wang Chuanjun, and Yin Zheng have paid ticketing platforms to offer coupons for viewers to watch the film. Author and film director Han Han posted on social media, wishing for the film to gross 1.4 billion yuan.

Zeng Shunxi, an actor of Teochew origin, said the movie brought back his childhood memories and that he couldn’t help weeping profusely while watching.

The film, subsidized by Shenzhen’s government publicity funds, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and will have a special presence at the upcoming 22nd China International Cultural Industries Fair.