Fight to finish

Mission: Impossible－Rogue Nation has won great success in the Chinese box office since its premiere in early September. The spy thriller, starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson, features many sensational fight sequences.[Photo provided to China Daily]

China, the world's second-largest film market after the United States, has grown at an annual rate of more than 30 percent in recent years, and this gave investors here a chance to tap into overseas markets. The Chinese investors reportedly picked 10 percent of the latest Mission: Impossible film's $150-million budget, making it an example of their interest in such projects.

But the film may pay off in more ways than financially in China.

Trade figures from Chinese cinemas indicate a 55 percent screening occupancy on its mainland debut day, which is high when compared with most homegrown tent-pole films.

"Our partners in China have been incredibly generous and supportive. We are glad to have them on board," McQuarrie says. "I can't predict what the future holds ... for (the) continued partnership, but I'm very interested to see what happens."

While analysts tend to focus more on financial stories, fans show an interest in behind-the-scenes information on such films.

Rogue Nation won high ratings on some Chinese film review sites, such as Douban.com and Mtime.com. Comments from online users mostly centered on Cruise's "death-defying" acting and the film's Chinese elements.

In the film, Cruise is an agent of the Impossible Missions Force who tries to intercept nerve gas being transported to terrorists, and in the process does many stunts himself. The Hollywood star is considered the Western equivalent of Chinese action hero Jackie Chan, who is also known for shooting real fight sequences for films.

Other sensational scenes include a motorcycle chase on the steep, winding roads of the Atlas Mountains.

McQuarrie calls that the "most thrilling time" of his months in the director's chair.