Paramount Pictures International’s Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen has grossed more than $58.6m (RMB400m) in mainland China, breaking the record of $52.7m (RMB360m) set by Titanic in 1998 to become the territory’s biggest ever film.

Beijing cinema managers confirmed that the film had grossed more than $58.6m, while its official importer and distributor, state-owned China Film Group Corporation, said it had broken the Titanic record but declined to reveal the exact gross up to July 12.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen was released in mainland China on June 24 and set a new opening-day record in China with $4.94m (RMB33.71m). Its first-weekend gross of $23.42m (RMB$160m) was also a new record in China. 

The film became China’s highest-grossing film ever in 19 screening days, whereas the Titanic record was set after 70 days of screenings 11 years ago, according to local cinema owners.

Beijing cinema owners estimates that the film’s gross will reach $67.35m (RMB460m) this coming weekend.

“The film’s sales prove that the current China film market has a capacity for blockbusters of $60m or even more,” says Gao Jun of Beijing-based New Film Association.

Market analysts say one of the main reasons for the phenomenal sales in the China market is the solid fan base for the Transformers animated TV series in China. It was introduced to China in 1987 on Shanghai Television Station and was replayed several times by various networks across the country.

The first Transformers film made around $40m (RMB280m) in 2007.

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