Nail-biting disaster rescue film "Cloudy Mountain" grossed 254 million yuan ($39.3 million) in the past week (September 20-26), continuing its dominance in the Chinese mainland box office after leading the charge during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, according to the China Movie Data Information Network. 

The film tells the story of a father-son journey to save a newly-built tunnel and a town of 160,000 residents from the peril of natural disasters. 

"All About My Mother," a movie about mother-daughter relationships, followed with 88.7 million yuan. Sci-fi comedy "Free Guy" finished third with 59 million yuan.  

Disaster-themed film becomes dark horse

Domestic film "Cloudy Mountain" beat American blockbuster "Free Guy" on the first day of release, and has received positive reviews from audiences and critics. The disaster film not only tells a touching story, but also pays tribute to rescue heroes and workers of national infrastructure projects. 

Chinese actor Huang Zhizhong plays a retired soldier who specialized in railway construction, while actor Zhu Yilong plays his son, a geological engineer. 

"They could focus on a project for years, even giving up family reunions during the Spring Festival," Zhu said at the movie premiere in Beijing, expressing his appreciation for China's railway workers. "Thanks to their dedication, more Chinese people can get home for family reunions faster and more conveniently via rail."

As an official selection for the Tiantan Award of the Beijing International Film Festival, "All About My Mother" was a highly anticipated release. The film tells the story of a woman desperate to escape her controlling mother, only to come to her mother's side as she fights cancer. One popular comment said the movie is a heartwarming story depicting the concept of mother-daughter love as well as separation and a loving reunion.

As China's National Day holiday approaches, a batch of new films will hit the big screen soon, including the war epic "The Battle at Lake Changjin" and star-studded "My Country, My Parents," both on September 30. 

(Cover image designed by Yin Yating)