Box office revenue surpassed 800 million yuan (US$115.28 million) for the first time on the Chinese mainland in the first quarter this year, China Film Group Corporation said on its Web site Tuesday.

Revenue hit 842.5 million yuan with a year-on-year increase of 45.3 percent in the period. About 34.56 million people went to cinemas during the period, a jump of 34.9 percent from a year ago, the state-owned company said.

Home-made movies accounted for more than 61 percent of the revenue while "CJ7," a sci-fi film directed by Hong Kong comedy king Stephen Chow, became the biggest hit with earnings of 202 million yuan.

"Kung-Fu Dunk," a film starring Taiwan pop icon Jay Chou, was the second biggest movie with earnings of 112.78 million yuan.

"An Empress and The Warriors," starring Hong Kong stars Kelly Chen and Leon Lai and kung fu star Donnie Yen, ranked third with 42.30 million yuan in box office receipts. "Playboy Cops," starring Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue and mainland actor Chen Kun, earned 14.02 million yuan to finish fourth in the quarter. It was followed by "Deadly Delicious" in fifth with 7.56 million yuan.

"The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," a film produced by US Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, was the most popular imported movie in the first quarter by ticket sales. It earned 62.8 million yuan at the box office, which was followed by "10,000 BC," which earned 61.2 million yuan. "National Treasure: The Book of Secrets" rounded out the top three imported films with earnings of 60 million yuan.

(Shanghai Daily June 4, 2008)