Hollywood movie "Transformers" raked in US$37.3 million at the Chinese box office, making it the No. 2 grossing foreign movie of all time in the country after "Titanic," an official said Monday.

Film Bureau Deputy Director-General Zhang Pimin said in a phone interview "Transformers" was now second after surpassing the "The Da Vinci Code," which drew in more than 100 million yuan (US$13.3 million; £á9.3 million).

"Titanic" made 359 million yuan (US$48 million; £á34 million) in China.

"Transformers," which was released in China with more than 500 copies, will also get an IMAX screening at five theaters starting Tuesday.

Zhang denied a report in the Ming Pao Weekly magazine over the weekend that China's government banned media coverage of "Transformers" and its box office earnings when it neared the 200 million yuan (US$27 million; £á19 million) mark.

"How could it do so well at the box office without publicity?" he said.

China carefully screens media content and only allows in about 20 foreign movies a year, although that quota can be bypassed through co-productions with local companies.

Regulators have also tried to maximize revenue for Chinese studios by banning foreign films from theaters during holidays and school vacations, when audiences are biggest.