A scene in the restored color footage of the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, which will be screened in the new film Mao Zedong 1949. [Photo provided to China Daily]

BEIJING - Domestic historical film Mao Zedong 1949 led the Chinese mainland box office on Friday, the China Movie Data Information Network said Saturday.

It grossed 9.08 million yuan (around $1.27 million) on its eighth day of screening, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the daily total.

The film retraces the history of 1949 from the Communist Party of China Central Committee moving to Fragrant Hills in Northwest Beijing in the spring to the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1.

Comedy The Last Wish ranked the second with a daily box office revenue of 7.11 million yuan.

Domestic drama Little Q took the third place by raking in about 6.22 million yuan on its eighth day of screening.