The Chinese mainland-produced film Aftershock has taken the lead in Taiwan's weekend box office of Chinese language films, according to a report in the island's media.

The tear-jerker took more than 6 million new Taiwan dollars (187,000 U.S. dollars) in the first three days since its Taiwan debut on Friday, almost half of which came from cinemas in Taipei.

An article in the Taiwan-based United Daily News said the film contradicted the assumption that the mainland actors were not popular on the island.

The newspaper predicted the film would claim higher box office rankings in Taiwan.

The Taiwan box office is recorded by the trade association of cinemas in Taiwan and published on www.atmovies.com.tw.

The film has taken more than 600 million yuan (88 million U.S. dollars) in mainland China since its release on July 22.

Aftershock is about a mother's three-decade journey leading to an emotional reunion with the daughter she thought she had lost in the Tangshan earthquake.

The 7.8-magnitude quake hit the northern city on July 28, 1976, killing more than 240,000 people.

Prior to the release, director Feng Xiaogang repeatedly stated that the the film's final box office would reach 500 million yuan, a mark no Chinese movie has ever achieved.