Scare Out, the second- highest-grossing blockbuster during Spring Festival, has boosted tourism and sparked widespread local interest in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where the movie was primarily filmed, local authorities said.

Produced under the guidance of the Ministry of State Security, the film features more than 100 modern locations, including iconic sites such as the Futian Central Business District, the Qianhai architectural complex, and the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center.

Propelled by the popularity of the movie — the latest directorial work of Zhang Yimou — the city welcomed over 10.5 million visitors, generating 11.84 billion yuan ($1.72 billion) in travel revenue, according to the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

Starring actors Yi Yangqianxi and Zhu Yilong, the story follows a team of national security officers as they investigate the leak of information concerning the country's latest fighter jet.

As the first film themed on modern national security, director Zhang revealed during the Beijing premiere that he found the story compelling because it breaks away from the conventional formula. Instead of setting espionage thrillers decades ago — mostly between the 1930s and 1940s — the film unfolds in a contemporary metropolis.

"The sequences carry a strong sense of modernity that makes everything real and immediate," said Zhang, recalling that national security officers had shared many real-life stories with him.

"But to turn it into a story of about 100 minutes, it requires a high degree of precision and tight pacing. The story has to be clear, well-told and consistently engaging," Zhang added.

As of Feb 27, the film — which also stars actor Lei Jiayin and actress Yang Mi — has grossed over 1.02 billion yuan from more than 22 million tickets sold, according to industry tracker Maoyan.