Hong Kong-based Stephen Chow enjoys an unflinching reputation of being a 'hit film maker' among Chinese audience. His surreal comedy movies in the past have struck a chord with Chinese audience. But when his latest film 'The Mermaid' got released during Chinese New Year period, even Chow may have never anticipated the kind of storm his movie would create at the box office.

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Grossing 2.45 billion Yuan ($375.6 million) in merely 12 days is not a small feat. Especially considering that the previous highest grossing movie Raman Hui's 'Monster Hunt' - released last year - took almost two months to achieve that feet.

Of course, the New Year holiday period helped the movie along, but there is no denying that Chow's latest comedy movie had many unconventional things to offer its audience. That proved to be a defining factor in making the movie such a magnanimous hit.

To begin with, The Mermaid - unlike most previous Chinese blockbusters - is not rooted in local mythology. Not to mention that the movie's unusual plot of a property developer falling in love with a beautiful mermaid proved too hard for the Chinese audience to resist.

In fact, the movie's surreal and unusual romantic plot further bolstered its collection on Valentine Day.  Some film experts believe that the movie's sub plot of a property tycoon trying to destroy a marine reserve touched on real-world concerns of global warming - further helping Chow's movie to stand out among other movies that were released during New Year holiday period.    

The Mermaid's record breaking performance on the market has raised genuine curiosity among local audience as to whether Chinese films can taste success in the international market. This curiosity was turned into major disappointment last weekend when Sony Pictures released The Mermaid only in 34 theatres across U.S.

Sony's decision to give such a record breaking hit film limited release in the U.S. highlights the fact that Chinese movies still have a long way to go to make a breakthrough in the international market.

But back home in China, there is no stopping The Mermaid. Success is flowing abundantly and The Mermaid seems happy to continue to swim in it.          

TagsStephen Chow, The Mermaid