Monster Hunt movie sets China box office record

Fantasy comedy Monster Hunt has become the highest-grossing domestic film in China, state media said.

Xinhua state news agency said that as of Sunday afternoon the film had earned 1.317bn yuan ($212m, £137m) since it opened on 16 July.

The previous record was held by 2012 road trip comedy Lost in Thailand which earned about 1.27bn yuan.

Monster Hunt, a blend of live-action and animation, tells the story of a radish-like baby monster called Huba.

Set in ancient China, the surreal comedy tells the story of Huba's birth to a hapless human man called Tianyin. The two go on the run when a bounty is placed on Huba's head and bounty hunters launch a pursuit.

It was directed by Raman Hui, who co-directed 2007 Hollywood animated film Shrek the Third.

The highest grossing film ever in China is Hollywood car racing movie Furious 7, which earned about 2bn yuan after it opened in April.