The Shanghai box-office record for July has been smashed as film-goers flock to see the Hollywood sci-fi robot blockbuster, "Transformers."

An animated film about an enchanted melon and a Hong Kong police movie helped in the summer record but their pulling power was dwarfed by "Transformers."

Shanghai United Cinema Lines, the city's leading chain, has taken in a record 38.53 million yuan (US$5.09 million) in the scorching days of July, a 60 percent increase compared with the same period of last year.

"Summer is always a golden screening period, particularly for students who are on vacation," said Wu Hehu, deputy director of the chain.

"Though the big screen during last year's summer also presented many hits, like 'Mission Impossible III' and 'Superman Returns,' the performance of 'Transformers' has been just so prevailing."

This month, "Transformers" tops the chain's box office, taking in 27 million yuan, followed by the Disney film made in China, "The Secret of the Magic Gourd" (2.8 million yuan).

Japanese cartoon "Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur" earned 1.01 million yuan at the chain, while Hong Kong action flick "Work Made for Fire" has sold 910,000 yuan worth of tickets.

On the Chinese mainland, "Transformers" has reaped 200 million yuan since it opened on July 11. It is expected to be the most popular Hollywood production in China this year.

According to Paradise Warner Cinema City, ticket sales for the movies in July have exceeded five million yuan. The figure almost doubles that of the same period of last year