'Jurassic Park 3D' Rides Chinese Popularity to Box Office Win

The 1993 Steven Spielberg classic "Jurassic Park," remastered in 3D this year, has found popularity – in a big way – in China, claiming more in worldwide weekend ticket sales than any other film.

"Jurassic Park 3D" took in $30 million in ticket sales over the weekend, $28.8 million alone from its debut in China, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The numbers underscores the interest Chinese movie fans in 3D movies.

Even 3D re-releases have found big success in China, according to The Hollywood Reporter, noting that "Titanic 3D" rang up $150 million in China last year.

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"'Jurassic Park 3D' is the new No. 1 film in the world with an estimated weekend gross of $30.0 million and a new (cumulative total) of $89.9 million," Ron Giambra, president of Rentrak Theatrical Worldwide, which monitors box office traffic around the globe, according to Benzinga.com. "Also, Disney has crossed the $2 billion mark overseas for the fourth consecutive year and 'Despicable Me 2' has surpassed the $800 million mark worldwide."

"Jurassic Park 3D" had an earlier re-release in the United States with the new 3D format taking in $45.4 million in North America, according to UPI.com.

Kevin Drum, of Mother Jones magazine, said the new movie-hungry Chinese audience seems to be driving the movie interest in making 3D pictures.

"China has become the second-biggest movie market behind the U.S., with sales of $2.7 billion last year," Drum said in a July 19 story. "The government allows in only 34 foreign films per year for national distribution. At least 14 of them have to be made in 3-D or for the big-screen IMAX format."

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Domestically, "Lee Daniels' The Butler" topped the box office for the second straight week pulling in $17 million, followed by "We're The Millers" with 13.5, "Mortal Instruments" at $9.3 million and "The World's End," with a box office take of $8.9 million, according to Rentrak.

"Jurassic Park" won three technical Oscars in 1994 after it was first released, according to IMDB.com.

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