SHANGHAI, March 7 — Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid is officially the first Chinese film to cross the half-billion mark in a single territory.

The conservation-themed romantic comedy became China’s first film to gross more than US$500 million (RM2 billion) on Saturday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film has collected US$505 million after 28 days in Chinese cinemas, according to data from Beijing-based box office monitor, Ent Group.

The Hollywood Reporter added that The Mermaid is also the seventh movie ever to have earned more than US$500 million from a single territory, not accounting for inflation.

They other members of this elite club are: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (US$928.8 million), Avatar (US$749.8 million), Titanic (US$600.8 million), Jurassic World (US$652 million), The Avengers (US$623.4 million) and The Dark Knight (US$533.3 million).

The Mermaid, which is touted as an environmental romantic comedy was filmed in 3D, and recounts the adventures of male and female mermaids planning to assassinate a ruthless real estate magnate who has bought a nature reserve and is killing its native dolphins.