《Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant》 picked to represent mainland China at 99th Oscars
In short
The film 《欢迎来龙餐馆》 will represent mainland China in the best international feature film race at the 99th Academy Awards, its producers announced on 7 October. Directed by Wen Muye and starring Shen Teng, the anti-war film opened in mainland China on 11 August and had taken 2.356 billion yuan at the box office as of 7 October. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for 14 March 2027 in Los Angeles.
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The film 《欢迎来龙餐馆》 will represent mainland China in the competition for best international feature film at the 99th Academy Awards, its producers said on 7 October. The announcement was made through social media; the film’s official Weibo account said it would “use a meal and a bowl of rice to express a hope for peace” and “use the warmth of Chinese food to convey compassion”, according to Jiemian and China News Service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Directed by Wen Muye and starring Shen Teng, the film was released in mainland Chinese cinemas on 11 August 2026. By midday on 7 October its cumulative box office exceeded 2.356 billion yuan, second on the mainland’s 2026 chart behind 《飞驰人生3》 by China News Service’s account; IT Home, publishing at 10:55, put the figure at 2.356 billion yuan after 58 days in cinemas and cited a Douban score of 8.7 and an IMDb score of 8.3, ratings not given by the other outlets. [ 1 , 3 ]
IT Home reported the film is produced by Ning Hao, directed by Wen Muye and co-written by Wen with Zhong Wei and Lang Qunli, and stars Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming and Omar Sharif, with a special appearance by Li Zhiting. Described as an anti-war film based on a true story, it follows chef Xu Fu, played by Shen, who goes abroad to the Middle East to pay off debts and runs a Dragon Restaurant in Bahata, the capital of a Middle Eastern country, per IT Home. China News Service said he is drawn into the war, survives by cooking and protects a group of war orphans. [ 1 , 3 ]
Wen Muye has said the film uses a Chinese restaurant in wartime as its entry point, contrasting food with war, and that he hopes audiences will feel the value of peace; the film also explores the idea that there are no true bystanders in a war, China News Service reported. [ 3 ]
Overseas distribution plans announced on 25 August call for releases from 11 September in Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, followed by Singapore on 17 September and Japan on 18 September, with October releases planned in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Laos, China News Service said. Releases in North America, Europe and the Middle East and North Africa were said to be moving forward. [ 3 ]
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. IT Home reported that Hong Kong has selected 《风林火山》 and Taiwan has selected 《大濛》 as their entries. The documents do not include any confirmation from the Academy of the mainland China entry. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The selection puts a commercially successful mainland Chinese title into the international awards race, with an overseas rollout already planned across Asia and further markets, according to China News Service. The film’s subject — a Chinese cook caught in a war in the Middle East — is presented by its makers as a peace-themed story, which the official outlet highlighted in its report. The documents do not say whether the Academy has confirmed the entry.
Key facts
- The film 《欢迎来龙餐馆》 announced on 7 October that it will compete for mainland China at the 99th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The film is directed by Wen Muye and stars Shen Teng, and was released in mainland Chinese cinemas on 11 August 2026. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Cumulative box office reached 23.56 billion yuan (2.356 billion yuan) as of 7 October, second on the mainland 2026 chart behind 《飞驰人生3》, according to China News Service. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is set for 14 March 2027 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The film is described as anti-war and based on a true story, with Shen Teng playing chef Xu Fu, who runs a restaurant abroad in the Middle East. [ 1 , 3 ]
- IT Home reported that Hong Kong has selected 《风林火山》 and Taiwan has selected 《大濛》 as their entries. [ 1 ]
- China News Service reported that overseas distribution starts 11 September in Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, followed by Singapore, Japan and several Southeast Asian markets, with North America, Europe and the Middle East and North Africa in progress. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The film 《欢迎来龙餐馆》 will represent mainland China in the competition for best international feature film at the 99th Academy Awards, announced on 7 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The announcement was made by the film’s side through social media, including its official Weibo account. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The film is directed by Wen Muye and stars Shen Teng. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The film was released in mainland China on 11 August 2026. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Cumulative box office stood at 2.356 billion yuan as of 7 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027 in Los Angeles. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Douban rating of 8.7 and IMDb rating of 8.3 Both figures appear only in the IT Home report; no other document gives ratings.
- Whether the Academy has formally accepted or confirmed the entry The documents describe an announcement by the film’s side and use words such as “will compete” and “apply”, but none reports confirmation from the Academy.
- Overseas distribution plans for North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa China News Service says these are being pushed forward, without dates or confirmation; no other document covers the rollout.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- IT Home reports the announcement, citing 2.356 billion yuan in box office over 58 days and Douban and IMDb ratings. [ 1 ]
- Jiemian reports the film’s official Weibo statement that it will compete at the 99th Academy Awards. [ 2 ]
- China News Service reports the announcement and adds that the film ranks second on the mainland 2026 box office chart. [ 3 ]