BEIJING, Dec. 3 -- Chinese audiences remain hungry for space movies with the film "Gravity" topping the box office last week.

According to Tuesday's China Film News, "Gravity" remained top of the box office charts in the week ending Dec. 1, taking in 141 million yuan (23.1 million U.S. dollars), with a total box office of 368.8 million yuan.

Hong Kong film "The White Storm" was second with 82.3 million yuan, and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" third with 69.3 million yuan.

Hitting Chinese screens on Nov. 19, "Gravity" costars Oscar winners Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts adrift in space. Bullock is finally saved by a Chinese spacecraft, Shenzhou. Coincidentally, China launched its first moon rover aboard the Chang'e-3 mission on Monday.

The successful launch of the lunar probe has led to new discussions on research in space after the Shenzhou-10 mission in June this year, which must also have contributed to the good showing at the box office.

Yan Yu, a postgraduate at Tsinghua University, told Xinhua that she went to see the movie when her interest in science-fiction was aroused by Chang'e-3.

"The movie comes at a perfect time along with China's lunar program," said Yan.

At douban.com, a major social network for film and book fans, "Gravity" was marked as 8.0 points (out of 10) by more than 90,000 votes, and at mtime.com, another movie buff website, it was graded as 8.5 by 12,000 viewers.

Many of the online comments praised the 3D effects and the survival route of Bullock's character.

"Davekoz" wrote that "American space shuttle exploded and the international space lab is destroyed. It is the Chinese space module 'Tiangong' that save the astronaut and send her back to Earth."

"Zhangxiaobei" suggested that all students in middle and primary schools should see the movie which will stimulate their interest in science.

Huang Qunfei, chief manager of Beijing's New Film Association, said that "Gravity" is showing on more than 20 percent of total available screens, a high rate, but in line with increased audiences and positive responses.

"Chang'e-3 has undoubtedly pushed more people into the cinema to see the film," said Huang.

Zhang Huijun, president with the Beijing Film Academy, said that the Chinese people are curious about space. "The story develops in a zero gravity situation with the breathtaking beauty of vast space," Zhang said.

The Chinese elements -- the Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou spacecraft -- also pleased domestic audience, Zhang added.