Global sensation ‘Dead to Rights’ opens in North American theaters following record-breaking international run
Fresh off its record-breaking box office run overseas, Shen Ao’s Dead to Rights has landed in U.S. and Canadian theaters. Now playing in over 250 locations across North America including premium IMAX format in select locations, it ranks among the year’s widest large-format releases for an international title.
Since its global debut, Dead to Rights has already grossed over $306 million worldwide, cementing its place as one of the top-performing non-English-language films in recent years.
“Dead to Rights has proven that exceptional filmmaking knows no borders,” said Sandro Gohoho, President of Licensing and Operations for Echelon Studios. “Its global momentum is extraordinary, and we are thrilled to contribute to bringing this cinematic experience to North American audiences in the way it was meant to be seen – on the biggest screens possible.”
“Dead to Rights is more than just a movie,” added Niu Vision’s CEO, Fukun Wang. “We’re thrilled to partner with Echelon Studios to bring this powerful piece of cinema to audiences worldwide, first in theaters, and soon through streaming.”
Co-written with Zhang Ke and Xu Luyang, Dead to Rights unfolds against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, drawing from documented historical events. The film follows A Chang (Liu Haoran, Detective Chinatown), a postman who assumes the identity of a photo developer to survive the Japanese occupation. From inside a Japanese-controlled studio, he secretly shelters Chinese soldiers and civilians, mounting a quiet but defiant act of resistance. After the war, the photos he risked his life to smuggle out exposed the massacre to the world and became pivotal proof of the massacre at the international court.
Featuring striking cinematography and poignant storytelling, Ao’s latest work has drawn comparisons to genre-defining classics such as Schindler’s List, with early ticket sales indicating strong interest from filmgoers.
Dead to Rights is now playing in select theaters and IMAX locations across the U.S. and Canada. Streaming release details from Echelon Studios will be announced soon.
