DEAR YOU: Chinese Box Office Breakout Comes to U.S. and Canadian Theatres September 4

DEAR YOU Movie Details

Title: DEAR YOU
Director: Lan Hongchun
Release Date: September 4, 2026
Theatrical Release: United States and Canada
Country: China
Runtime: 118 minutes
Languages: Teochew, Mandarin Chinese and Thai
Subtitles: English
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
Cast: Li Sitong, Wang Yantong, Wu Shaoqing, Zheng Runqi and Wang Xiaohui
Special Appearance: Zhao Shuguang, Li Deru, Li Shuhao and Seamkhum Usha

DEAR YOU, the acclaimed Chinese family drama from filmmaker Lan Hongchun, is making its way to North American theatres following an extraordinary theatrical run in China. The film became one of the year’s most unexpected word-of-mouth successes, connecting with audiences through its deeply human story about family, migration, sacrifice and the bonds that can survive generations.

DEAR YOU opens in theatres across the United States and Canada on September 4, 2026.

Plot

DEAR YOU follows a debt-ridden grandson who travels from China to Thailand searching for the grandfather he believes abandoned his family.

With mounting debts and nowhere else to turn, he hopes that the man behind years of qiaopi letters and remittances may be able to help him financially.

But what he discovers is far more meaningful.

As he begins uncovering the truth about his grandfather’s life, the grandson realizes that the money and letters were part of a much larger story of love, sacrifice and devotion. The journey forces him to reconsider everything he believed about his family and the man he thought had walked away from them.

Inspired by the traditions and experiences of overseas Chinese communities, the film explores how family connections can endure despite distance, time and misunderstanding.

A Surprise Chinese Box Office Success

One of the most remarkable aspects of DEAR YOU is the film’s journey to becoming a theatrical breakout.

Made without a cast of established major stars, the movie found its audience through strong word of mouth, ultimately earning nearly $300 million at the Chinese box office according to the film’s release materials.

Its emotional story has also connected with audiences across Southeast Asia, helping DEAR YOU develop an international audience beyond its original Chinese theatrical release.

The film’s success demonstrates how a relatively modestly positioned drama can find a huge audience when viewers connect strongly with its characters and themes.

A Story About Migration and Family

At the heart of DEAR YOU is the complicated relationship between migration and family.

The film looks at what happens when people leave their homeland in search of a different life—and how those decisions continue to affect the family members who remain behind.

Rather than treating migration simply as a physical journey, DEAR YOU explores its emotional consequences. Memories, traditions, letters and stories can become ways for families separated by distance to remain connected.

The film ultimately asks how much we can really know about the sacrifices made by previous generations.

A Female-Centered Story of Choice

Another important element of DEAR YOU is its focus on women and the different ways they understand family, motherhood and responsibility.

Rather than presenting sacrifice as something women are simply expected to endure, the film emphasizes agency, resilience and mutual care.

Its female characters are allowed to make their own choices and define what family means to them, creating a story that feels particularly relevant to audiences navigating changing ideas about relationships and responsibility.

Cast

The cast of DEAR YOU includes:

• Li Sitong as Xie Nanzhi
• Wang Yantong as Zheng Musheng
• Wu Shaoqing as Old Ye Shurou
• Zheng Runqi as Xiaowei
• Wang Xiaohui as Young Ye Shurou

The film also features special appearances by Zhao Shuguang, Li Deru, Li Shuhao and Seamkhum Usha, who audiences may recognize from How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.

Director

Lan Hongchun directs DEAR YOU, bringing together elements of family drama, migration stories and cultural tradition.

The filmmaker uses the journey from China to Thailand as a way of exploring the emotional distance that can develop between generations, while gradually revealing the sacrifices and decisions that shaped the family’s history.

Languages and Production

DEAR YOU is a Chinese production featuring dialogue in Teochew, Mandarin Chinese and Thai, with English subtitles.

The film runs approximately 118 minutes and is presented in color.

The film is produced through King Ant Pictures, Beijing Damai Entertainment Culture Co., Ltd., Rongde Holding Group Co., Ltd. and Lichun Pictures, with Well Go USA Entertainment handling its North American release.

Release Date

DEAR YOU opens in theatres across the United States and Canada on September 4, 2026.