Hollywood stokes China's box office

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BEIJING, July 21 (UPI) -- Sales of movie tickets in China surged more than 41 percent in the first half of the year, statistics from the Chinese government show.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said this week first-half box office sales totaled totaled 8.07 billion yuan ($1.28 billion) due in large part to brisk sales for foreign films such as the 3D version of "Titanic."

Other Hollywood blockbusters making a splash in China were "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," and "The Avengers."

Chinese productions, however, slumped 4.3 percent compared to the first six months of 2011. China's Xinhua news service said "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" was the highest grossing made-in-China release in the first half with 216 million yuan ($33.8 million) in ticket sales.