China box office tops $1.63 billion in first half of 2013

China’s domestic box office has generated about $1.63 billion in the first half of the year, a government panel said, another sign of the film industry’s growth in that country.

It’s the first time China’s box office take has hit the milestone of 10 billion yuan in the first six months of the year, according to the National Film Development Special Funds Management Committee.

The committee did not offer comparative data for last year.

FULL COVERAGE: Reel China

China is now the world’s second-largest movie market behind the United States, with box-office takings reaching $2.74 billion in 2012, and it’s expected to take the No. 1 spot within a few years.

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ryan.faughnder@latimes.com