Movie theaters in Shanghai saw a decrease in business over the National Day holiday due to the lack of appealing blockbusters.

Shanghai United Cinema Lines, the city's largest cinema chain, took in 7.16 million yuan (US$954,666) at the box office during the seven-day holiday, which ended on Sunday.

"It is a sharp 20-percent decrease compared with the 8.95 million yuan in ticket sales during the same period last year," said Wu Hehu, the chain's deputy director.

Hong Kong suspense thriller Triangle and Hollywood comedy romance No Reservations were the top box-office draw during the holiday.

They respectively took in 1.36 million yuan and 1.04 million yuan.

They were followed by comedies Minyeo-neun Goerowo (570,000 yuan) Taxi 4 (500,000 yuan) and the US/German action film Final Contract: Death on Delivery (430,000 yuan).

Film insiders and theater owners attribute the loss to the lack of really powerful and attractive movies.

"Last year The Banquet, Rob-B-Hood and the animation Open Season proved a strong boost to the local film market," Wu said. "The three pictures generated more than eight million yuan in ticket sales."

Studio City Cinema sold nearly 400,000 yuan worth of tickets last week, a 25-percent decrease compared with last year.

(CRI.cn October 9, 2007)