On a different planet

Director Ridley Scott's latest effort, The Martian, is cut above his previous efforts Alien and Prometheus. An additional treat for fans here is the key role China plays in helping rescue a stranded astronaut. Xu Fan reports.

How do you survive alone on an arid planet 225 million kilometers from Earth? A stranded astronaut, played by Matt Damon, provides the answers in the sci-fi hit The Martian. Nearly two months after its North American debut, the critically acclaimed blockbuster opened in Chinese mainland theaters on Wednesday in three versions: 3-D, IMAX 3-D and DMAX 3-D. The film has dominated the North American box office charts for four weeks in a row.

Besides, the latest directorial effort of 78-year-old Ridley Scott, known to Chinese fans for the sci-fi thrillers Alien and Prometheus, has become his highest-grossing title.