Last February, tens of thousands of moviegoers stormed cinemas around the United States to watch "Chronicle," turning the superhero thriller into a surprise hit that topped the U.S. box office on Super Bowl weekend.

The film, which follows the adventures of three American teenage boys who acquire superpowers, made $22 million that weekend alone -- traditionally considered one of the slowest weekends for the U.S. movie industry.

Although set in Seattle, "Chronicle's" producers decided to shoot in South Africa, lured by the country's low production costs and growing reputation as an attractive destination for international filmmaking.

The move paid off as the film, with production costs of just $12 million, turned out to be a big winner for 20th Century Fox. "Chronicle" exceeded industry expectations by piling up an impressive $126 million in global cinema ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo.

"Fox was totally stunned by it," says Nico Dekker, chief executive of Cape Town Film Studios, the South African facility where "Chronicle" was primarily shot. "The $12 million film is looking like a $30 million or a $40 million film on the screen," he adds.

Over the years, South Africa's varied landscapes have been a favorite set location for Hollywood productions. Worldwide hits shot at least partly in the country include "Blood Diamond," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, "Lord of War," featuring Nicolas Cage, and "Invictus," Clint Eastwood's take on South Africa's victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Read: 3D animation puts South Africa film in the picture

But while the country's stunning beaches, jagged mountains and lush vineyards have long served as a backdrop for films, as well as TV adverts, Cape Town Film Studios is now aiming to make South Africa a major destination for both location filming and top-quality studio productions.

The multi-million dollar complex, the first of its kind in South Africa, boasts four soundstages, several offices, a cinema, as well as pre- and post-production services.

Less than two years after it first began operations, the vast studios have already attracted an impressive roster of blockbuster films. Apart from "Chronicle" they were used for action movie "Safe House," starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, the 3D comic-book adventure "Dredd," and TV drama "Mary and Martha," starring Hilary Swank.