The star-studded film, "The Founding of a Republic," is on course to becoming the biggest ever domestic box office success for a Chinese mainland film after taking 250 million yuan (36.6 million U.S. dollars) since its premiere on Sept. 16.

"The box office is expected to hit 350 million yuan after the eight-day National Day holiday," Weng Li, spokesman with the state-owned China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), said Monday.

"Then the film will become the box office champion of the domestic film industry."

The movie recounts Chinese history from 1945 to 1949. About 200 established Chinese actors and directors, including Jet Li and Chen Kaige, participated in the film.

It was made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), said director Han Sanping. Han is also the chairman of the CFGC.

The defending champion in the Chinese film box office is "If You are the One" directed by Feng Xiaogang, released on Dec. 18, 2008, which took in about 340 million yuan as of Jan. 24.

Weng attributed the success of the epic film to the blend of mainstream political values and marketing.

"The gathering of stars played the historical roles vividly," he said.

Prof. Yin Hong, of the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, said the film could be considered an example of a politically-themed movies attempting to reach a wider audience through marketing.

"More stars mean more attention, which will attract the public," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2009)