The record-breaking success of the Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2″ has taken the global box office by storm.
Released in late January during the Spring Festival holiday in China, the movie has surpassed all expectations, becoming the highest-grossing animated film ever. Ne Zha 2” raked in over 13 billion yuan ($1.79 billion) in China alone, capturing half of the box office during the holiday period.
Chinese animated blockbuster #NeZha2 grossed more than $845,900 upon its debut in the #HongKong and #Macao special administrative regions on Saturday, achieving the highest first-day box office revenue for an animated film in the SARs.
Read full: https://t.co/tROag28odM pic.twitter.com/b6aR6hR83l— Voice of the People (@VoiceofPD) February 24, 2025
The film’s unprecedented performance has propelled it into the global top 10 films ever. It currently sits in eighth place above “Jurassic World” and is poised to overtake “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”
The sequel to the 2019 hit “Ne Zha,” which grossed $726 million worldwide, “Ne Zha 2” was made entirely in China over five years by 138 animation companies with more than 4,000 crew members. The film’s technological advancements are evident, with the number of shots increasing from 1,800 in the original to 2,400 in the sequel. One battle scene near the climax reportedly features up to 200 million characters.
here's yet another top grossing movie that used Gen AI — this time from China. https://t.co/VN8Uv3tlvV
— Derek Slater (@derekslater) February 25, 2025
The sequel to the 2019 hit “Ne Zha,” which grossed $726 million worldwide, “Ne Zha 2” was made entirely in China over five years by 138 animation companies with more than 4,000 crew members. The film’s technological advancements are evident, with the number of shots increasing from 1,800 in the original to 2,400 in the sequel. One battle scene near the climax reportedly features up to 200 million characters.
Loosely based on Chinese mythology and the 16th-century novel “The Investiture of the Gods,” the film follows the hero Ne Zha as he competes in mystic trials while sharing his body with a Dragon Prince named Aobing.
Almost there! #NeZha2 finishes 4th full week ready to beat #SpiderManNoWayHome’s $1.92B run TOMORROW as #7 highest grossing film of ALL TIME at Global #BoxOffice!
In #China’s #BoxOffice, the juggernaut added $8.4M (¥61.2M), over 205k screenings (-4k from yesterday) on BIGGEST… pic.twitter.com/txM4BXA7v2
— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) February 25, 2025
Breaking animated film records
The movie’s success is attributed to its universal themes of heroism, family, self-discovery, strategic release schedule, and marketing efforts.
Chinese state media have hailed the film’s success as a turning point for the country’s growing film industry. Fans across Chinese social media are rallying behind “Ne Zha 2,” encouraging repeated viewings in cinemas, while various companies are showing support by organizing group viewings and offering cinema vouchers to their employees. The rising nationalist sentiment is a key factor in the success of “Ne Zha 2,” just as it was for 2021’s “The Battle at Lake Changjin.” However, the film breaks from traditional nationalism by depicting its protagonist as rebellious and cheeky, resonating with younger viewers who value self-expression over conformity.
Despite its modernized approach, the film remains deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy, drawing from Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism while utilizing Chinese cultural aesthetics like ink painting and bronze artifacts. The film’s success bodes well for China’s film industry, with Wang Shiyong, founder and CEO of Wuhan-based 2:10 Animation, stating, “The film’s outstanding box office performance will attract more investment and talent to the animation industry, injecting strong vitality into its development.
As audiences continue to favor local content over American imports, “Ne Zha 2” has proven that there is a growing appetite for homegrown productions, pointing to a potentially diminished role for Hollywood in China’s future cinema landscape. The film’s legacy continues to grow, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and audiences alike, and setting a new benchmark for Chinese animation studios.
