It's been a box office blockbuster. With over 1.6 billion dollars in sales worldwide, Avatar is on course to be the biggest, most successful film of all time. Even in China where the movie theater infrastructure is still developing, especially outside major cities, it's already the most successful film ever shown.

It's taken over 80 million dollars nationwide, and theaters - at least those with 3D facilities - up and down the country have been sold out solidly for much of Avatar's run.

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It's the most expensive movie of all time. The highly-anticipated movie, Avatar, has finally hit Chinese theaters this week. It opened at number one in every country where it’s been released. And it's expected to make bank here in China as well.

Avatar may be the most successful movie of all time in China. But has been pulled from the majority of theaters sooner than expected.

The state-run movie distributor, China Film Group, unexpectedly yanked the film from over 1,600 2-D screens in favor of a biography of the ancient philosopher Confucius which stars veteran Chinese actor, Chou-Yun Fat which debuted on Saturday.

According to a report in Hong Kong tabloid, the Apple daily, the move was made at the urging of propaganda officials. It said they were concerned Avatar was taking too much market share from domestic films - and drawing unwanted attention to the very sensitive issue of forced evictions.

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With all the fuss over the release of historical bio-pic, Confucius - and the Avatar 2D controversy - the latest vehicle for China's favorite comedy kung fu artist, Jackie Chan, has been virtually overlooked.

Jackie Chan's latest film hit Chinese screens a week before Confucius, and while blockbuster Avatar was still in full flow.

In the mold of Chan's successful "Rush Hour" 1 & 2 movies, "The Spy Next Door" is a martial arts comedy action pic – of sorts. This time CIA agent Chan has to fight off Russian bad guys while looking after his girlfriend's kids. Chan, who spent last summer in Beijing filming Will Smith's remake of the Karate Kid seems to be moving towards the lucrative family market as he ages.

But with Avatar and Confucius battling it out, "The Spy Next Door" hasn't really caught Chinese movie goers' imagination - despite the best wishes of some theater managers.