The Teochew dialect drama “Dear You,” which became one of the defining stories of China’s box office in 2026, will be released in international markets from June 18, with Damai Entertainment (the distribution company formerly known as Alibaba Pictures) handling the global theatrical release.
Directed by Lan Hongchun, this family drama follows young grandson Xiaowei as he secretly travels to Thailand to find his grandfather, who lost contact with his family decades ago. What he uncovers is a story rooted in the Chinese diaspora community in Bangkok in the 1950s. The story involves Qiaopi, a system of remittance letters that overseas Chinese workers send back home, and a woman named Xie Nanzhi whose handwritten letters hold the key to the past. The film oscillates between modern-day storylines and mid-century flashbacks.
The photo stars Li Si-tong, Wang Yan-tong, Wu Xiaoqing, Zhen Lunchi, Wang Xiaohui, and also features Thai actor Usha Seemkum.
The first wave of international territories includes Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Further broader rollout is planned to follow in more than 10 markets, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
The film has since grossed more than 1.5 billion yuan ($221.6 million) at the local box office in China, ranking second behind “Pegasus 3” on the 2026 annual chart. Its 9.2 rating on review platform Douban is derived from over 700,000 user ratings and represents one of the highest scores for a domestic release in China in over a decade.
The qiaopi tradition, a historic letter and remittance tradition maintained by overseas Chinese communities, has been recognized as part of UNESCO’s World Memory Register. “Dear You” is Lan’s third feature set in the cultural world of Chaoshan, following “I Am Sure I Can” and “Take Me to See My Mom.”
Damai Entertainment, rebranded from Alibaba Pictures in 2025, operates ticketing platforms Tao Piao Piao and Damai alongside the Beacon AI promotion and distribution platform, and has participated in the production and distribution of over 300 films. The international expansion of ‘Dear You’ allows us to bring Teochew films and the broader Chinese diaspora films to audiences in Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America.
