Best-selling Chinese film 2012

Chinese cinema has witnessed a miracle: Low-budget film “Lost in Thailand” has just become the most bankable* Chinese film of all time.

The comedy had grossed* 721 million yuan (US$115 million) as of December 24, Mtime.com reported. It officially took the best-selling-domestic-film crown from “Painted Skin: The Resurrection,” which earned 702 million yuan this summer.

With a budget of 30 million yuan, “Lost in Thailand” follows three Chinese men who meet on their trips to Thailand, where funny things happen.

Kate Winslet marries in secret

Kate Winslet has married with Virgin tycoon Richard Branson’s nephew, Ned Rocknroll, her representative told People magazine.

“I can confirm that Kate Winslet married Ned Rocknroll in the New York City earlier this month in a private ceremony attended by her two children and a very few friends,” the representative said.

According to British media reports, the wedding took place in a converted* barn and was attended by just six friends from each side. The couple’s parents didn’t know about it.

‘X Factor’ to fire Britney

It looks like Britney Spears’ “X Factor” position as a judge won’t last for long.

As the new issue of Us Weekly reveals, the singer is on her way out as a judge for Fox’s hit reality competition, which wrapped its second season on December 20.

“Britney will get fired,” an insider said of the pop star, who joined the show in May, along with fellow newcomer Demi Lovato. “Producers wanted her to stay, but it isn’t working.”

Hollywood dominates 2012

Chinese film market

China’s 2012 box office was dominated* by foreign films for the first time in four years.

A contract has been signed earlier this year to encourage more Hollywood film screened on the mainland. As a result, domestic films have been squeezed out of the market. China’s box office receipts are expected to reach 16.8 billion yuan (US$2.7 billion) in 2012 and about 8 billion yuan, or slightly less than half the receipts, are from domestic films, the official People’s Daily reported on Monday, quoting estimates from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. (SD-Agencies)