'Monster Hunt' becomes highest grossing Chinese film

The animated movie "Monster Hunt" has become the highest grossing Chinese film of all time in the world's second-largest cinema market, state media reported Sunday.

The mega-hit had brought in more than 1.268 billion yuan ($204.4 million) as of Sunday, only 10 days after debuting, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

The movie, directed by Hong Kong's Raman Hui -- also known for co-directing US comedy-animation Shrek the Third -- is about a young man who accidentally creates a monster named Huba.

It had already set opening-day and single-day records by a Chinese film, Xinhua said.

China's total box office in the first half of this year totalled 20.4 billion yuan, Xinhua said, citing SARFT.

US racing movie "Furious 7" in April became the highest grossing film ever in China, surging past "Transformers 4", to take in more than 2 billion yuan, Xinhua reported at the time.