Off the wire
• 2nd Ld-Writethru-China Focus: G20 economies pledge "all policy tools" to strengthen global recovery  • Shanghai hi-tech zone unveils enterprise park in Boston to promote China-U.S. technological innovation  • Chance for Barca to pull clear in Spain  • Early results show reformists gain ground in Iran's parliament election  • Cyprus shortlists three bidders for first casino  • School sets up "male principle office" to boost student masculinity  • Iraq summons UAE envoy over Shiite militia comments  • China Headlines: Striving for the health of 1.4 billion people  • School gives out pork as scholarships  • Italian PM and EU's Juncker strike conciliatory tone during talks in Rome  
You are here: 　 Home

"Mermaid" becomes first Chinese movie to pass 3 bn yuan mark

Xinhua, February 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Stephen Chow's "The Mermaid," a comic love story and environmental parable, became the first Chinese movie to pass the 3 billion yuan (460 million U.S. dollars) ticket sales mark on late Friday, according to movie consulting firm EntGroup.

The movie has been riding ticket sales boom since its release on Feb. 8, beating almost any record at the second largest film market, including the highest-grosser, previously held by another hit "Monster Hunt."

The story centers on a property tycoon, who bought a marine reserve and wanted to develop it. A beautiful mermaid was chosen to seduce and kill the tycoon, until she fell in love with him.

Considering that it only took "The Mermaid" 12 days to overtake "Monster Hunt," many Chinese movie industry watchers are expecting the movie to cause a bigger splash.

A report from EntGroup quoted Xiao Fei, founder of movie firm UP Pictures, as saying that many people thought it was impossible for China to have a film topping 5 billion yuan three years ago. "Now, everyone believes this mark is not far away anymore." Endi