'Ne Zha 2' shatters box office records
An animated film about a boy who battles demons with his magical powers has become a source of national pride for China.
Based on the Chinese mythological character, ''Ne Zha 2'' follows the story of Nezha as he challenges the political order and authority governing gods and demons, fighting the Dragon King of the Four Seas and other creatures.
Note that just a few days after its release, the film garnered over 6.79 billion yuan (about 947 million U.S. dollars), overtaking the North American box office and toppling "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
It has now pulled in $1.2 billion in ticket sales since its release on Jan. 29, at the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.
Ticketing platform Maoyan has revised its domestic box office forecast regarding the film upward to an impressive 10.85 billion yuan (approximately 1.51 billion U.S. dollars), making it the first Chinese film ever projected to surpass the 10 billion yuan mark in total earnings.
The film also led the Imax box office, generating $22.1 million, making it the fastest Imax release to surpass RMB100 million in China and the 13th highest-grossing local-language film in Imax history.
Industry experts are keeping a close eye on "Ne Zha 2" to see if it can maintain its momentum and raise the bar even further in the coming days.
On Sunday night, Maoyan increased its domestic box office prediction for the movie once more, now predicting that it will bring in over 12 billion yuan.
''Ne Zha 2” has tapped into the country’s deepening nationalistic fervor.
The previous No. 1, “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” is a 2021 film about a group of Chinese volunteers who defeated American soldiers during the Korean War.
Close behind was “Wolf Warrior 2,” a 2017 action film in which a Chinese former special forces soldier takes on an American villain.
Beyond its domestic success, ''Ne Zha 2'' is ready to become a cultural bridge that gives audiences around the world a taste of China's rich traditions and mythology.
According to the Moayan analyst Lai Li, the film's success opened the door for the growth of the country's film industry.
"The success of 'Ne Zha 2' has set the tone for the year. It highlights the incredible resilience and growth potential of China's film market, and we're excited to see how the rest of 2025 unfolds," Lai said.