“Ne Zha 2” Becomes China’s Highest-Grossing Film of All Time
A Chinese animated film, “Ne Zha 2,” featuring a mythical child with a punk attitude and magical superpowers, has shattered records to become China’s highest-grossing movie of all time, NBC News reports.
In just two weeks since its release in mainland China, the film has garnered nearly $1.3 billion, according to the Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.
“Ne Zha 2” is not only the most successful film in Chinese box office history but also marks a historic milestone as the first non-Hollywood production to cross the $1 billion threshold. Additionally, it holds the record for being the first film globally to earn over $1 billion in a single market. The film is set to debut in the United States in a limited release starting Friday.
Inspired by a well-known Chinese legend, “Ne Zha 2” follows the story of the child deity Ne Zha, who defies his predetermined fate and harnesses magical powers to defend his community from formidable foes. This sequel follows the success of its predecessor, released in 2019, which previously held the title of the highest-grossing Chinese animated film.
Chinese audiences have responded enthusiastically to the movie, emphasizing their pride in its entirely Chinese production, from the director to the special effects and post-production teams. “It’s a purely Chinese animated film, deeply rooted in Chinese cultural heritage,” commented Nianyi Zhao, a 29-year-old independent film critic. “Chinese audiences are willing to support it as a way of promoting domestic animation and sharing Chinese culture with the world.”
The success of “Ne Zha 2” is viewed as a testament to China’s advancements in filmmaking and a reflection of the diminishing influence of Hollywood in the region, amid an evolving cultural and national identity. Its release on January 29 coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday, a key period for moviegoing, and provided hope for China’s film market, which faced a 34% decline in total box office revenue last year compared to its pre-COVID peak in 2019.
The film’s release led to a record $1.3 billion in takings throughout the eight-day Lunar New Year holiday, further strengthening the Chinese box office, which ranks second only to North America. “Ne Zha 2” quickly surpassed the previous highest-grossing film, 2021’s patriotic war drama “The Battle of Lake Changjin,” and may soon dethrone last year’s animated blockbuster “Inside Out 2” as the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
State media have celebrated “Ne Zha 2” as part of a series of cultural triumphs for China, alongside successes in various sectors such as gaming and technology. The film’s merchandise is flying off the shelves, with projections suggesting it could earn nearly $2 billion within China.
On the social media platform Weibo, a trending hashtag #NeZhaBoxOfficeRaisingNationalFlag has accumulated billions of views. Many young viewers are expressing their willingness to pay for multiple viewings to help boost the film’s ranking in the box office.
