BEIJING — China plans to put the breaks on "Avatar's" record-breaking run.

Authorities are pulling the non-3D version of the science fiction epic from screens across the country as of Saturday, according to theater operators and state media, apparently for political and economic reasons.

China Film Group, the state-run domestic distributor of the Hollywood blockbuster, has reportedly ordered cinemas to stop showing the 2D version of James Cameron's global hit by this weekend on the orders of China's censors. The 3D and IMAX versions of the movie will continue their run into February.

Repeated calls to the distributor's spokesman Tuesday went unanswered.

Reportedly, part of the reason is to reduce competition for China's homegrown films, like the state-backed biopic of Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, starring Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat, which opens this Thursday.