Pakistani film The Legend of Maula Jatt is set to be released in cinemas across China from May 21, 2026, director Bilal Lashari has announced.
“In cinemas across China from May 21, 2026. A huge moment for Pakistani cinema, and a new door opening for our stories on the world stage,” Lashari wrote on X.
Released in October 2022, The Legend of Maula Jatt is a reboot of the Punjabi film Maula Jatt. Directed by Lashari, the film became a major commercial success for Pakistani cinema and was also released in several overseas markets.
The China release is expected to draw attention in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, where access to the Chinese market is seen as an opportunity to expand the international reach of Pakistani films.
Pakistani films have previously secured screenings in China. The military action film Parwaaz Hai Junoon received a theatrical release there in November 2020, when it was reported as the first Pakistani film in decades to reach Chinese cinemas.
The planned release of The Legend of Maula Jatt adds to recent cultural exchanges between Pakistan and China, whose cooperation has more often centred on infrastructure, trade and investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
