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'Transformers 2' becomes biggest-ever China hit

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-17 16:02

HONG KONG: The "Transformers" sequel has become China's biggest box office hit ever, earning 400 million Chinese yuan ($59 million), a movie publicist said Friday.

In this film publicity image released by Paramount Pictures, Megan Fox, left, and Shia LaBeouf are shown in a scene from 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.' [Agencies]

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" surpassed the 11-year-old record of 360 million yuan set by "Titanic" in 1998, spokesman Weng Li at the state-run China Film Group told The Associated Press.

Related readings:  'Ice Age,' 'Transformers' tie at box office with $42.5m  "Transformers" looks unstoppable at box office  Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen  "Transformers" tops global box office  "Transformers" midnight shows rake in $16 million

China Film Group is the country's only film importer. Weng said the Hollywood film received a wide release of several thousand screens. China had about 4,100 screens by the end of 2008.

The record came despite China's annual quota of 20 foreign blockbusters. But Chinese films are catching up. Weng said both installments of John Woo's recent two-part Chinese historical epic "Red Cliff" earned 300 million yuan ($44 million), as did Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's romantic comedy "If You Are the One."