Dear You, China’s underdog film that turned into a box office phenomenon, is now set for release in the U.K., Ireland, and France. The Teochew-language family drama directed and co-written by Lan Hongchun, is heading to the U.K., Ireland, and France after Trinity CineAsia acquired all theatrical rights from Hugoeast and Damai Entertainment.
The cast of Dear You is largely made up of non-professional actors from the Chaoshan region. The film’s lead performer is a 20-year-old finance student with no prior screen credits or acting experience. The film opens across U.K. and Ireland cinemas on June 26, with a French theatrical release expected to follow.
Dear You was released in China on April 30, 2026. To date, the film has earned approximately $246.1 million at the Chinese box office, according to reports. It also holds a 9.2/10 score on Douban, placing it among the highest-rated Chinese releases of the past decade.
The film opens across several Asian territories beginning June 18. With only Han Han’s Lunar New Year racing comedy Pegasus 3 earning more in China this year, Dear You has emerged as one of the country’s biggest box office successes of 2026. The film has also provided a much-needed boost to the Chinese box office, which is currently running about 40 percent behind 2025 levels. The film’s theatrical run continues to show remarkable staying power. Even deep into its release, Dear You continued posting strong numbers and was reportedly more than doubling the opening-day earnings of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day.
“Dear You is one of the most remarkable box-office success stories to emerge from China in recent years,” said Cedric Behrel, Managing Director of Trinity CineAsia. “Built almost entirely through audience enthusiasm and word of mouth, it has demonstrated the power of authentic storytelling to move millions of people. “We look forward to bringing this exceptional film to audiences across the UK, Ireland and France, including the many Asian communities who have long awaited the opportunity to see their history and identity reflected on screen in such a meaningful way.”
Dear You takes its language and setting from Chaoshan, a region in eastern Guangdong province around the cities of Shantou, Chaozhou, and Jieyang. The area’s Teochew-speaking communities have historically sent large numbers of immigrants throughout Southeast Asia between the 19th and 20th centuries.
The story follows Xie Nanzhi, a Chinese-Thai immigrant living in Thailand, played by Li Sitong. Burdened by debt, he travels to Thailand in search of his wealthy grandfather, who left during wartime and never returned. During his search, he discovers that the man had died long ago and that the letters his grandmother had treasured for years were actually written by a stranger.
Lan Hongchun revealed that he spent three years interviewing more than 120 elderly Chaoshan residents, with much of the film’s story inspired by their experiences and personal accounts. Thai actress Usha Seamkhum, who played the grandmother in Thailand’s 2024 box office phenomenon How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies — the country’s Oscar submission that year — makes a special appearance in the film. Her casting is also seen as a nod to her own Teochew-Thai heritage.
For Trinity CineAsia, the film joins a growing U.K. slate of Chinese titles that includes the global animation phenomenon Ne Zha 2, Zhang Yimou’s spy thriller Scare Out, Bi Gan’s Cannes prize winner Resurrection, and Jackie Chan’s action film The Shadow’s Edge.
The deal also extends the distributor’s relationship with Damai, formerly known as Alibaba Pictures. The agreement forms part of the film’s wider international rollout, which begins on June 18 across Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. Releases in North America and Australia are expected to follow.
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