ISLAMABAD: Pakistani blockbuster The Legend of Maula Jatt is set to release in cinemas across China on May 21, marking a major milestone for the country’s film industry, director Bilal Lashari announced.
Lashari said the release in China — one of the world’s largest and tightly regulated film markets — would help open new international doors for Pakistani cinema.
In a post on X, he said the film had “broken into one of the most exclusive film quotas in the world,” adding that it was the first Pakistani film to achieve the milestone.
“‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ has broken into one of the most exclusive film quotas in the world — the first Pakistani film ever to do so,” Lashari wrote. “In cinemas across China from May 21, 2026.”
He described the development as a “huge moment for Pakistani cinema” and a step toward bringing local stories to global audiences.
China, one of the world’s largest film markets, strictly limits the number of foreign films screened each year. Hollywood productions account for a large share of its imports, though Beijing has faced ongoing calls to relax the quota.
Released in October 2022, The Legend of Maula Jatt is a reboot of a classic Punjabi action film that originally gained popularity four decades ago. The film received critical acclaim and performed strongly in both domestic and international markets.
Pakistan has previously managed limited cinematic releases in China. The military action film Parwaaz Hai Junoon became the first Pakistani film in decades to screen in Chinese cinemas in 2020.
That film notably featured the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, highlighting defence cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement for its China release was signed in 2019 during a China-Pakistan economic cooperation forum held alongside the Belt and Road Initiative summit.
