A Recipe for Box Office Success: China's "Once Upon a Time" Serves Up a Hit The recent success of "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" at the Chinese box office has left many wondering what exactly has contributed to its popularity.
The film, directed by Wen Muye and starring Shen Teng as a debt ridden chef, has not only retained its top spot for four consecutive weekends but also crossed the $300 million mark.
The film's success is often attributed to its timely release during a period of regional conflict in the Middle East. However, this may be too simplistic an explanation.