Pakistan's highest-grossing film is finding an audience in Chinese cinemas

The Legend of Maula Jatt has moved from Pakistan's record books into Chinese theaters. The film began screening in China on May 21, 2026, timed alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Early box-office tracking puts opening-week earnings at roughly 100,000 yuan, or about $14,739, based on Chinese industry data.

South Asian film watchers tracking global theatrical runs should note the difference here: this is not a festival one-off but a commercial release in a market that rarely programs Pakistani cinema at scale.

Audiences reacted to the film's scale, action choreography, and artistic style, with viewers saying they had little prior exposure to Pakistani movies.

Distribution executives see the release as a step toward deeper film cooperation between China and Pakistan, including production and talent exchange.

Maula Jatt is a modern reboot of a 1979 Punjabi cult classic. The 2022 version already dominated Pakistan's box office and drew international attention for its production scope.

A China theatrical run is still unusual enough to matter for anyone comparing how South Asian blockbusters travel outside diaspora hubs. The opening-week figure remains an early snapshot of the film's Chinese theatrical run.