Hong Kong (CNN) -- When China's most successful homegrown movie went on international release last month, hopes were high that the slapstick comedy, which has drawn comparisons with "The Hangover," would blaze a trail for Chinese-language cinema. But "Lost in Thailand," which picked up the highest grossing film at Hong Kong's Asian Film Awards on Monday night, flopped outside mainland China -- only collecting $57,000 in the United States and $72,000 in Hong Kong, according to figures from consultancies Film Business Asia and Beijing-based Entgroup. The film earned $202 million in China, making the unexpected hit the most profitable movie ever after Hollywood extravaganza "Avatar."
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Chinese-language movies a hard sell to international audiences
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Biggest domestic hit, Lost in Translation, flopped in U.S.
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Obstacles include poor marketing, lack of stars and cultural differences
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China in quest to be force on silver screen
Chinese
Chinese
Poor marketing, a lack of recognizable stars and plot lines and humor that get muddled in translation weigh against @placeholder films and it's a trend that's not improving despite the country's thriving movie industry.
United States
U.S.
However, Beijing is becoming more assertive in its attempts to project its own view of the world and looks at the global reach and appeal of @placeholder films and television shows with envy.