Peter Ho-sun Chan's The Warlords has set a record as the biggest simultaneous Chinese release of the year, grossing $15m across five Asian territories on its opening weekend.

The bulk of the box office came from China where the film became the biggest domestic opener of the year, clinching $12.2 m (RMB90m) from 1,027 prints, including RMB10m from sneak previews on Dec 12. China Film Group and Polybona handled mainland distribution.

The period epic, starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro, also clinched the top spot at the box office in Hong Kong and Singapore.

In Hong Kong, the film raked in $1.1m (HK$8.5m) from 67 prints through Media Asia, surpassing I Am Legend, which also opened on Dec 13, and scoring the second biggest opening for a Chinese film this year behind Lust, Caution.

In Singapore, it clinched the best opening weekend for an Asian film this year with $636,570 (S$923,600) from 38 prints. It beat the new release of Alvin And The Chipmunks and pushed Golden Compass to third place. Singapore distribution is handled by InnoForm and MediaCorp Raintree Pictures along with Shaw.

In Malaysia, where Grand Brilliance handled distribution, it took $269,581 (RM897,301) on 35 prints for third place in the chart, while I Am Legend opened top and Golden Compass dropped to second place.

Indonesia 's PT Teguh Bakti Mandiri grossed a further $0.19 m over three days. Thailand also released the picture simultaneously, but box office figures have not come in yet.

The next release is Taiwan which will open the film on Dec 28 on 95 prints through Arm Distribution, the local subsidiary of Chan's Hong Kong-based Applause Pictures.

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