The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), a trade association which represents

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), a trade association which represents the six major film studios in Hollywood, revealed in a report that China has surpassed Japan as the biggest international market for Hollywood films for the first time last year.

According to the MPAA’s Theatrical Market Statistics Report for 2012, Hollywood films raked in US$2.7 billion (S$3.3 billion) in China last year – a 36% increase from the year before – compared to US$2.4 billion (S$3 billion) in Japan.

Perhaps due to the increasing importance of the Chinese market, a growing number of Hollywood films feature Chinese stars.

Chinese actress Li Bing Bing played secret agent Ada Wong in Hollywood sci-fi actioner “Resident Evil: Retribution” and has been invited to appear in the next film of the “Resident Evil” franchise.

Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing may play the teleporting mutant Blink in the upcoming film “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, and also appears in “Iron Man 3”, a co-production between Disney and Chinese film distributor DMG Entertainment.

“Cloud Atlas” featured popular Chinese actress Zhou Xun, while “Looper” saw actress Summer Qing performing alongside Hollywood star Bruce Willis.

Source AFP