Transformers 4.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
The U.S. film "Transformers 4: Age of Extinction" is this year's top-grossing foreign movie in China, earning $319.58 million in revenue.
The science-fiction movie, directed by Michael Bay, is the fourth installment in the Transformers franchise's live-action series.
According to Hollywood Reporter, the official website of the China Movie Channel (CCTV 6) reported that the 34 foreign quota films in China grossed 11.2 billion yuan ($1.81 billion) this year. This figure equates to about a third of the total box office earnings in China.
"Mandela" had the lowest revenue, based on the tally, earning only $110,000.
The earnings of foreign movies in the China's box office went up by 60 percent from last year's figures.
President Xi Jinping signed an agreement with the World Trade Organization in 2012 to ease China's restrictions on foreign films. Xi agreed to increase the quota from 20 to 34 foreign films every year on a revenue-sharing basis. Xi and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden have agreed to review the system in five years.
China's box office this year is expected to reach almost $5 billion with over 25,000 screens across the country, according to Hollywood Reporter.
While the Chinese government has agreed to set the quota to 34 foreign movies every year, only 33 were screened this year.
The American science-fiction adventure movie "The Hunger Games: Mockinghay Part 1" was pulled out by film authorities after receiving a quota place. Hollywood Reporter said that the decision was to give way to domestic movies in the last quarter of the year. The movie is expected to be screened in Feb. 2015.
