Full Breakdown
Global Theatrical Rollout Begins June 18
6/6/2026, 1:17:05 PM
Plot and Cultural Foundations
The plot follows Xiaowei, a grandson who travels to Thailand to find his estranged grandfather, uncovering a 1950s Chinese diaspora community in Bangkok and the qiaopi remittance-letter system. Handwritten letters from Xie Nanzhi connect past and present. The cast includes Li Sitong, Wang Yantong, Wu Shaoqing, Zheng Runqi, Wang Xiaohui and Thai actor Usha Seamkhum. The qiaopi tradition is UNESCO-listed on the World Memory Register, and director Lan Hongchun’s earlier Chaoshan-focused films reinforce the Teochew cultural setting.
Distribution Strategy and Damai’s Role
Damai Entertainment, rebranded from Alibaba Pictures in 2025, runs the Tao Piao Piao and Damai ticketing services and the Beacon AI promotion system, which together serve millions of Chinese moviegoers. The company has backed the production and distribution of over 300 films. Managing “Dear You’s” global rollout, Damai aims to bring Teochew-language and broader Chinese diaspora cinema to audiences across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America.
Domestic Box Office and Audience Reception
Domestically, “Dear You” has earned RMB 1.5 billion ($221.6 million), ranking second on the 2026 Chinese box-office chart behind “Pegasus 3.” The film holds a 9.2 rating on Douban, based on 700,000 user reviews, making it one of the highest-rated local releases in a decade. This strong performance positions it among the year’s top-grossing Chinese titles, bolstering confidence in its overseas prospects.
Cultural Significance and Diaspora Representation
The film’s focus on qiaopi highlights a practice listed by UNESCO on the World Memory Register, underscoring historic ties between overseas Chinese communities and their homeland. UNESCO’s recognition affirms the global cultural value of qiaopi, aligning the film with heritage preservation initiatives. International exposure may raise awareness of Teochew culture and broader Chinese migration narratives.
Official Statements from Damai Entertainment
Damai Entertainment described the rollout as positioning the company to bring Teochew and wider Chinese diaspora cinema to global audiences, emphasizing a strategic intent to diversify film offerings with culturally specific stories. The statement also highlights the goal of leveraging its digital ticketing and AI-driven platforms to promote regional Chinese narratives beyond domestic markets.
Upcoming Market Rollout
Following the initial wave, “Dear You” will open later in 2026 in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, extending its theatrical presence across four continents. The rollout covers 15 territories across Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania, supported by Damai’s international marketing network.
