While domestic box office totals for Chinese films reached nearly 16 billion yuan ($2.5 billion) in 2014, some people may be curious how they fared in foreign markets.

On Tuesday, The Academy of International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC), a private research institute under Beijing Normal University, released the results of its 2014 global survey examining the international influence of Chinese films.

The survey shows that Chinese films are still not that popular among foreigners.

Among the 1,592 people surveyed, 53 percent have watched more than one but less than five Chinese films, while 26 percent of those surveyed have never watched a Chinese film. Furthermore, most of those who have watched Chinese films are accustomed to doing so through free TV channels and free websites, especially audiences in Asia (Not including China).

Two decades ago, films featuring kung fu and exotic Oriental culture were common favorites among international artists. According to the survey little has changed over the intervening years as kung fu and stories involving Chinese mythology are still the most popular genres among foreign audiences. A sharp contrast to the fact that most Chinese films that have won big international film awards over the past few years have been films mainly focused on China's less developed rural regions.

Another interesting discovery is that the survey shows that audiences in Africa and Oceania have developed a great interest in the traditional philosophy reflected in these Chinese films, while South Korea and Japan, two countries that have similar cultural and philosophical backgrounds as China, showed little interest.

Since it was first launched by the AICCC in 2011, the survey has expanded in scope to reach 66 countries on five different continents.

Global Times