A wave of Titanic 3D popularity is washing over China.

The overall take at the nation's cinemas was down 9% on 2010.

Kiwi production Boy and a string of Hollywood blockbusters boosted the New Zealand box office to more than $167 million in 2010.

Teen vampire movie New Moon, the second in the Twilight series, is setting box office records around the world.

Already destined to be the top grossing film in New Zealand this year, according to projections by Sky City Cinemas, the country’s largest exhibition chain, it has broken two box-office records in one day in the US, where it opened at midnight on Thursday.

The Peter Jackson produced sci-fi thriller District 9 has topped the weekend’s box office takings in the US, providing Hollywood with a late-summer boost and giving the backers a quick profit.

District 9 has also debuted in New Zealand cinemas to strong audiences and favourable reviews. The US takings, based on Thursday to Saturday takings, were $US36.9 million, much more than the initial tracking that had it opening in the mid-$US20 million range.