“The Lychee Road” Claims Top Spot at Box Office, earning $23.7 Million in Debut Weekend
The past drama “The Lychee road,” distributed by Aimmedia Pictures, has opened at the number one position in its debut weekend, grossing RMB170.3 million (approximately $23.7 million). This figure, according to data from Artisan Gateway, does not include preview screenings, which have brought the film’s cumulative total to $31.7 million.
Directed by Dong Chengpeng, who also stars as the protagonist, and penned by Si’ao Dai and Yuyue Shen, the film is based on a novel by Ma Boyong. “The Lychee Road” chronicles the arduous journey of a minor official, Li Shande, tasked with the monumental challenge of transporting fresh lychees over 5,000 miles during the Tang Dynasty to satisfy the imperial court’s demands.
Following in second place was the animated fantasy sequel “The Legend of Hei 2,” produced by Qianwanjian Media, which garnered $14.4 million. The film,co-directed and co-written by MTJJ (Ping zhang) and Gu Jie,continues the story of Luo Xiaohei,a cat spirit. Two years after finding a home in the human world with his mentor Wuxian, Luo Xiaohei finds himself embroiled in a new conflict at the Spirit Hall, facing emerging threats.
Dachong Media’s “you Are the Best” secured the third position with an opening weekend earning of $7.6 million, bringing its total gross to $9.1 million. The film, directed by and starring Jiang Wen alongside Ma Li, centers on a young man who leaves his home to pursue his musical aspirations with his father.
Light Chaser Animation’s “Curious Tales of a Temple” ranked fourth, earning $7.3 million for the weekend and pushing its cumulative total to $20 million. This animated anthology draws inspiration from Pu Songling’s renowned “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.” The movie weaves together six interconnected ghost stories, all linked to the enigmatic Lanruo Temple. The anthology is co-directed by Cui Yuemei, Liu Yuan, Xie Junwei, Zou Jing, Huang Heyu, and Liu Yilin, with voice performances by Lu Lifeng, Lin Qiang, Zhang He, and Chen Ziping.
Rounding out the top five was “F1: The Movie,” a production from Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. starring Brad Pitt. The film added $5.1 million to its box office run,bringing its total earnings to $45.1 million.
The overall box office for the weekend reached $76.1 million, a notable increase from the previous week’s $51.3 million. This performance has contributed to the 2025 running total reaching $4.35 billion,representing a 15.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.