NEWS

China's new animation film NE ZHA 2 has seen very unexpected results as it's climing up to the highest grossing films of all time globally, and it is now the world’s highest-grossing movie of all time in a single market. The Chinese production is also the first non-Hollywood film to break into the all-time global top 20 of highest-grossing films.

Image from the film

The phenomenal success of “Ne Zha 2” – a rare bright spot in China’s otherwise sluggish box office amid a struggling economy – has sparked a wave of national pride and jubilation, with audiences, state media and officials rushing to celebrate the landmark achievement. For decades, China’s movie market had been dominated by Hollywood blockbusters, but in recent years home made titles – in genres from action and sci-fi to romance and animation – have increasingly outpaced Western films, a pivot fueled by rising cultural pride, more sophisticated storytelling and rapid technological progress.

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THE STORY

After Ne Zha and Ao Bing are struck by heavenly lightning together, their physical bodies are destroyed. To prevent their souls from dissipating, Master Taiyi Zhenren exhausts his Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus to regenerate their physical bodies, though they are still fragile. Ao Bing's father, Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, believing his son is dead, orders Master Shen Gongbao attack Chentang Pass with the monsters imprisoned under his palace and the other three Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. Ao Bing defends Chentang Pass, but his new body disintegrates due to the effort exerted. Ao Guang makes a ceasefire deal: Ao Bing and Ne Zha will share Ne Zha's body for seven days, complete three trials to become a xian (immortal) and win a potion that can restore the Sacred Lotus and create a new body for Ao Bing, upon which Ao Guang's forces will retreat. The trials are set by Immortal Wuliang, leader of the heavenly Chan sect. During the trials, candidates complete missions, supervised by Wuliang’s disciple. These missions are normally performed by the sect's demon hunters.

Film image

OVERSEAS RESPONSE

Following its record-breaking run in China, “Ne Zha 2” has headed overseas, with wide releases in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday and North America on Friday. It became an instant hit among the Chinese diaspora – many rushed to snap up presale tickets days in advance and lined up for its premieres. “Even those who weren’t previously interested in anime are drawn to this movie because of the enthusiasm and the glowing word of mouth in China,” said Summer Wang, a data analyst who attended the film’s premiere in Los Angeles.

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Top 10 highest grossing films of all time in the World:

  1 Avatar $2,923,706,026 (2009)
  2 Avengers: Endgame $2,797,501,328 (2019)
  3 Avatar: The Way of Water $2,320,250,281 (2022)
  4 Titanic $2,257,844,554 (1997)
  5 Ne Zha 2 $2,103,389,553 (2025)
  6 Star Wars: The Force Awakens $2,068,223,624 (2015)
  7 Avengers: Infinity War $2,048,359,754 (2018)
  8 Spider-Man: No Way Home $1,922,598,800 (2021)
  9 Inside Out 2 $1,698,863,816 (2024)
  10 Jurassic World $1,671,537,444 (2015)

Ne Zha 2 poster

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