Under the Light, another hit directed by Zhang, recounts a thrilling case involving a deputy mayor's collusion with a businessman, that has reminded theatergoers of China's efforts to fight corruption and gang violence.

Leap, a sports film that recounts the stories of the Chinese national women's volleyball team over the last 40 years, came in fifth, with more than 830 million yuan.

"Leap," a sports film that recounts the stories of the Chinese national women's volleyball team over the last 40 years, came in fifth, with more than 800 million yuan.

"The landmarks recount how our society has changed over time," says Cao Yongkang, director of the International Research Center for Architectural Heritage Conservation at Shanghai Jiaotong University.

But, for the domestic companies, they’re merely inching towards 10 billion yuan,” Zhang recounts to China Daily with a gulp of dismay.

"Compared to the figure contained in the book, Traditional Chinese Operas Chronicles, which was published in 1999 and which recounts the history and development of traditional Chinese opera, 47 varieties have died out and 17 are facing extinction," the report said.