Only 34 foreign films a year are allowed to be shown in Chinese cinemas.
After a month following the film's general release, it was being shown in 200 Chinese cinemas.
More notable is the fact that all three were already prominent fixtures in Chinese cinema.
Prostitution has emerged as a subject of art in recent years, particularly in Chinese cinema.
With its $10 million budget and vast, fast-paced battle scenes, the movie was a first for Chinese cinema.
Like westerns for Americans, they have become an identity of Chinese cinema.
Bourke claimed the movie contained the first naked scene in Chinese cinema.
As of 2010 Chinese cinema is the third largest film industry by number of feature films produced annually.
Cheung was ranked as the most favourite actor in the 100 years of Chinese cinema.
China also restricts the showing of foreign-made films in Chinese cinemas.
