(Yicai Global) March 1 -- Movies in Chinese mainland had grossed over CNY11 billion (USD1.6 billion) at the box office last month as of 5.00 p.m. yesterday.

They thereby set a one-month record for a single market in world cinematographic history, state China News Service reported, citing official data.

Films in the mainland pulled in a record CNY10.1 billion in February last year to make China the first market with over CNY10 billion in a single month twice, according to statistics from government-run China Movie Data Information Network.

The box office gained momentum from the eight productions that came out on Feb. 5, the first day of the peak moviegoing Lunar New Year holiday , and grossed CNY1.4 billion nationwide that same day, which broke not only the CNY1.3 billion one-day record held on the first day of last year's Spring Festival vacation, but also the world's one-day record for a single market.

Chinese sci-fi production The Wandering Earth became the top-grossing movie during China's Spring Festival holiday, raking in more than CNY4.4 billion at the office box in Chinese mainland last month. 

US sci-fi action blockbuster Alita: Battle Angel, co-produced by James Cameron, had grossed CNY597 million (USD89 million) on the mainland as of yesterday.

Editor: Ben Armour