A Strong Debut! 'Welcome to Long Restaurant' Ignites the Summer Box Office

(Beijing, 14th, Comprehensive News) A Chinese anti-war film, 'Welcome to Long Restaurant', is reshaping global cinematic narratives.

According to CCTV News and online platform data, as of its official release on August 11th, the total box office for the film 'Welcome to Long Restaurant' has surpassed 200 million yuan, marking a strong start.

The film 'Welcome to Long Restaurant' focuses on the fate of individual lives under the shadow of war. It tells the story of Xu Fu, a Chinese chef, who goes to the Middle East to work as the head chef of a Chinese restaurant to support his family and repay his debts. Together with the restaurant's front desk manager Ma Junsheng, they work hand in hand to run the Long Restaurant successfully, only to find their fate dramatically altered when war breaks out.

From 'Schindler's List' to 'All Quiet on the Western Front', anti-war films have always been deeply moving. The hit release of 'Welcome' once again reminds us how precious peace and tranquility are for millions of households!

Many viewers said this is the most emotionally impactful Chinese film they have seen in years!

Some scholars believe that as China’s first realistic anti-war film, it breaks away from the traditional Western heroic narrative. Using the simple theme of “having a good meal”, the movie imperceptibly weaves in values of shared fate, harmony, and opposition to power, which are central to the Chinese worldview, making it a classic work.

How is it different from Hollywood’s armored heroes? Viewers believe that 'Welcome to Long Restaurant', told from the perspective of a Chinese chef from Northeast China trying to make a living in the Middle East, weaves a compelling tale of joys and sorrows, profoundly showcasing the cruelty of aggressive war.

“Have a good meal”—this Chinese phrase conveys warm care and concern. In China, family harmony is often most evident around the dining table. Bonds between villagers are also strengthened by sharing a meal, and a meal can resolve many disputes… For Chinese people, happy or sad occasions are often accompanied by a shared meal.

The report quotes Chinese netizens saying that Chinese films, represented by 'Welcome to Long Restaurant', are depicting this real world through Chinese values and perspectives. “This film definitely deserves the Oscar for Best Picture.”