Since its July 25 premiere, Chinese film Dead to Rights has dominated the Chinese mainland weekend box office and topped global charts this past weekend. According to Maoyan, the movie has grossed 1.7 billion Yuan (about $236.6 million) by Tuesday, earning an 8.6 rating on Douban and drawing attention from Variety and Channel News Asia.
Set against the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, the film follows a group of civilians seeking refuge in a photography studio. While developing images for a Japanese military photographer, they uncover graphic evidence of wartime atrocities and risk their lives to preserve the truth. Director Shen Ao's minimalistic approachh—like the image of a knife held to a baby or rivers of blood—creates an emotional depth that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Viewers praise the film for honoring history without sensationalism. Evan Kail, an American donor of wartime photo archives, calls it a 'ten out of ten' for keeping history alive, honoring victims, and warning against rising wartime denial by some right-wing groups. By preserving evidence on screen, Dead to Rights counters historical amnesia and reminds audiences of the value of peace.
With global premieres scheduled in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore, the film invites viewers to reflect on China's vital role in World War II. As a universal call to peace and an honest reflection on the past, Dead to Rights offers a powerful cinematic experience for audiences everywhere.
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Why Chinese film "Dead to Rights" topped global weekend box office
cgtn.com
