Dead to Rights, the Chinese film depicting the crimes of the Nanjing massacre through the eyes of a photo developer, is set to release in the UK on September 5th.
Set during the Nanjing Massacre of 1937, this Mandarin-language drama tells the story of a man who escapes death by posing as a photo developer, then uses his new position to document the atrocities and shelter Chinese soldiers and civilians.
Drawing on verified photographic evidence of Japanese atrocities during World War II, the film tells the story of a group of Chinese civilians who seek refuge in a photography studio during the brutal occupation of the Chinese city of Nanjing by Japanese aggressors in 1937.
The film is described as being “based on real documented evidence of Japanese military atrocities during the Nanjing massacre.”
Its limited international rollout has already begun in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Now, the UK will also get a chance to watch the movie with a scheduled release on September 5th. The film is available to watch in select Odeon and Cineworld cinemas.

In China, the film has just crossed the $400 million mark at the box office.
The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and WWII (known in China as the World Anti-Fascist War).
Due to the anniversary, a string of WWII-themed movies has been released in China. As well as Dead to Rights, there is also Dongji Island, which was recently released in the UK, telling the story of British POWs on the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru and the Chinese fisherman who saved them.
If you liked this article, why not read: Dongji Rescue European Premiere Held in London