2026 Best Chinese Movie: Dear You (给阿嬷的情书) with a List of New Movies

Finding the best new Chinese movies to watch? During the 2026 May Day holiday box office window, a certain movie took the film market by storm. It featured no top-tier traffic celebrities, lacked aggressive commercial marketing, and was cast almost entirely with non-professional, everyday actors. Yet, using the most rustic local dialect, it gently captured the hearts of audiences everywhere. This movie is Dear You (《给阿嬷的情书》). Today, join Wukong Education as we explore the touching story behind this cinematic gem.

Dear You Basic Film Information

This indie production, made on a modest budget of just 14 million RMB, not only left mainstream celebrities like Li Xian and Michelle Chen weeping openly in theaters, but also triggered a massive wave of rave reviews across the internet. As a parent, you might wonder: Is such a tear-jerker suitable for children? Behind those tears, what core values are worth exploring with your kids?

Today, let’s dive into this unmissable 2026 Chinese cinematic masterpiece.

The Core Plot of Dear You——One Photograph, Two Misunderstandings

The film opens much like a conventional story of a family searching for lost relatives.

In their Teochew hometown, Grandma Ye Shurou fell in love at first sight with a poor young man named Zheng Musheng. After eloping, they had three children. Later, to make a living, Musheng traveled far to Southeast Asia (Nanyang, specifically Thailand). For years afterward, letters and money remittances never ceased, but he never once returned home.

It wasn’t until China’s reform and opening-up in 1978 that Shurou decided to travel to Thailand to find her husband. However, what awaited her was a photograph of Musheng standing alongside another woman and a group of children. Shurou was struck by a sudden, painful realization: he had already started a new family there.

Heartbroken, she quietly moved away, cut off all hope, and believed her marriage had ended in betrayal.

The Mind-Blowing Plot Twist

Decades later, her grandson Xiaowei accidentally discovers that his long-lost grandfather—the one rumored to have kept a “second wife” in Thailand—had actually become a billionaire tycoon who donated and built several schools under his own name. To uncover the truth, a journey to trace their roots begins.

As the investigation deepens, another version of the story is revealed—cruel yet extraordinarily tender: Grandfather Musheng had actually passed away as early as 1960.

Throughout the long decades that followed, the person who had been “romancing” Grandma Shurou, writing letters, and sending money and goods in Musheng’s name was actually an unrelated woman she had never met: Xie Nanzhi.

Brief Letters, Infinite Love, and a “White Lie” Supporting Two Families

Years ago in Thailand (then known as Siam), Zheng Musheng earned a meager living pulling a trishaw in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Risking punishment to ensure overseas Chinese children did not forget their roots, he secretly opened a classroom to teach Chinese. Xie Nanzhi, the daughter of a local innkeeper, was drawn into his classroom, learning to read characters, recite poetry, and sing Teochew folk songs alongside Musheng.

However, a devastating fire destroyed the inn, and Musheng was imprisoned for two years for saving lives and fighting the arsonist. During this time, Nanzhi served as the courier delivering letters between Musheng and Shurou. Tragically, after his release, Musheng perished in a maritime accident while working on a cargo ship.

To save Shurou from absolute despair in their far-off homeland, Nanzhi changed her mind at the final moment before mailing the obituary. She resolved to continue writing letters and sending money to Shurou, adopting Musheng’s voice and identity.

In the second half of the film, when an elderly Nanzhi suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s disease and her mind becomes clouded, she holds Grandma Shurou’s hand and asks: “Did you receive the salted pork I sent last time? Was it delicious?” At that exact moment, countless Chinese families in the audience completely break down in tears.

The Cultural Core of Dear You (Qiaopi Crossing the Seas)

In the first half of the 20th century, countless young men from the Teochew region traveled across the seas to Southeast Asia (Guo Fan) to make a living. They sold hard labor in the tin mines of Malaya and on the bustling docks of Siam.

What is “Qiaopi” (侨批)?

What was sent back to Teochew from Southeast Asia each month included not just a few lines of family update, but nearly their entire hard-earned wages. This unique transnational family correspondence—“where silver remittances were wrapped in letters, and money carried affectionate reminders”—is called Qiaopi in the Teochew dialect.

The movie quotes extensively from authentic, historical Qiaopi texts, allowing the audience to deeply appreciate the beauty of classical Chinese prose and traditional letter-writing:

• Musheng’s Longing (written by Nanzhi): “To my dear wife Shurou, may this letter find you in good health. Enclosed is 200 silver dollars. As the ship sails into the night, the bright moon rises over the river, making it feel as though I am standing side-by-side with you admiring it. Though separated by tens of thousands of miles of rivers and seas, keeping you in my heart makes the distance vanish.”
• Shurou’s Deep Concern: “To my dear husband Musheng, greetings. The 100元 has been received. On the night of the Qixi Festival, I dreamed you returned home clad in fine robes, still looking like the youth you once were. Awakening from the dream, I walked to the village gate; hearing the babbling brook, I realized how deep the night was. Wishing you safety and sweet dreams.”

A single sheet of Qiaopi carried far more than just a distant family’s longing; it embodied a profound love for family and country that is thicker than water. In reality, it was through these individual Qiaopi letters that countless overseas Chinese donated funds during national crises, paved roads, built bridges, and established schools (such as Shantou University) in their hometowns. This represents a collective historical memory belonging to all Chinese people.

FAQ about Watching the Movie with Kids

A Curated List about More High-Scoring Chinese Movies on Douban

After experiencing the warmth and healing power of 2026’s Dear You, many parents may want to discover more premium domestic films suitable for the whole family. Referencing the highest-rated Chinese films on Douban from 2025, that year yielded multiple masterpieces boasting both excellent word-of-mouth and top-tier quality.

1. Nanjing Photo Studio (《南京照相馆》) | Top Historical Masterpiece of the Year (Douban: 8.8)

As the highest-rated Chinese film on Douban in 2025, Nanjing Photo Studio is a deeply profound historical war drama. The film focuses on a specific period in history, slicing in through the micro-perspective of a local photo studio. Using delicate and restrained cinematic language, it reconstructs historical truths to pay tribute to ordinary Chinese people who stood up for justice and protected hope during chaotic times.

Rather than sensationalizing tragedy, the film delivers a powerful message of national righteousness through authentic storytelling. It is perfect for older children, helping them remember history, respect peace, and understand national responsibility. It stands out as a highly educational patriotic masterpiece.

2. The Legend of Hei 2 (《罗小黑战记2》) | Healing National Anime Masterpiece (Douban: 8.7)

For younger children and families who prefer a light-hearted, comforting style, The Legend of Hei 2 is a must-watch animated masterpiece from 2025, scoring a stellar 8.7 on Douban. The film continues the warm, healing style of its predecessor, centering around a fantasy adventure.

Boasting exquisite and beautiful visuals alongside a gentle narrative, it avoids violent conflicts and heavy themes, focusing instead on companionship, growth, and goodwill. Hidden within the thrilling adventure are heartwarming life philosophies. Appealing to both the young and old, it makes an excellent choice for a family movie night.

3. Ne Zha 2 (《哪吒之魔童闹海》) | Peak of National-Style Chinese Animation (Douban: 8.4)

As a massive blockbuster during the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday, Ne Zha 2 firmly secured its spot among the year’s top Chinese masterpieces with a high score of 8.4. The film continues the high-octane, national-art style of the I Am Nezha series, featuring jaw-dropping visuals and a rich, robust plot.

Innovating upon traditional mythology, it balances thrilling action sequences with deep explorations of personal growth, destiny, and familial love. Its core themes of breaking through prejudices, growing courageously, and staying true to oneself deliver immense positive energy to children, making it an exceptional national anime that balances visual spectacle with educational value.

4. The Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain (《浪浪山小妖怪》) | National-Style Healing and Growth Masterpiece (Douban: 8.6)

An absolute phenomenon during the 2025 summer box office window, The Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain shattered expectations with an ultra-high Douban rating of 8.6 and a staggering box office run of 1.7 billion RMB. It is a national-style growth animation perfect for all generations. Adapted from the viral animated short The Summer of a Little Monster (from the anthology Yao-Chinese Folktales), the original creative team spent four years meticulously crafting this feature film.

It preserves the classic Chinese ink-wash aesthetic, offering frames filled with ancient charm and profound artistic conception. The story follows four low-ranking monsters from Langlang Mountain—a little pig demon, a toad spirit, a weasel demon, and a gorilla monster—who refuse to settle for mediocrity. Breaking free from their shackles, they team up to embark on an absurd, passionate, and grassroots Western adventure.

5. The Stage (《戏台》) | A Classic Satirical Comedy Masterpiece (Douban: 8.0)

Marking legendary creator Chen Peisi’s monumental return to the silver screen after 32 years, The Stage—which he both directed and starred in—garnered a superb Douban score of 8.0. Adapted from the wildly popular, perpetually sold-out classic stage play of the same name, the film assembles a powerhouse cast including Huang Bo, Jiang Wu, and Yin Zheng to deliver a national-style comedy rich in humor, depth, and cultural heritage. Set against the chaotic backdrop of warlord infighting during the Republican Era, the film focuses on the absurd experiences of the Wuqing Opera Troupe as they arrive in Beijing to perform. A series of mistaken identities triggers a chain reaction of hilarious, multi-layered, and ironic backstage misadventures.

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