Item from Aug 16, 1998, in China Daily: The debut of the blockbuster movie A Time to Remember may mark a new phase in Chinese film industry.

With a big publicity blitz and nationwide media coverage, the film is winning the hearts of millions of people all over the country. ...

The rapid growth of China's film industry has not only brought great profits to the investors, but also helped expand the country's influence in the global movie market.

Last year, China's box office hauled in $6.8 billion, up by almost 50 percent from 2014, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

A growing middle class is fueling the explosive growth in movie theaters in the country, where 15 new screens open daily, and the number of cinemas is projected to nearly double this year.

The industry has also been a driving force behind the overseas expansion of some of China's entertainment giants.

Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group acquired AMC Entertainment－the second-largest movie theater chain in North America in 2012 for $2.6 billion.

Since then, Wanda has acquired overseas companies with interests in film, sports, travel and property.

In July, AMC announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to buy the London-based Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group for around $1.2 billion.

The influence of China's film industry has also expanded to Hollywood, which is looking to include more Chinese elements in its productions. China is now on track to overtake the United States as the biggest movie market next year.