Ne Zha 2 Breaks Box Office Records

The animated movie Ne Zha 2 has soared to the top of China’s box office records, officially becoming the country’s highest-grossing film in history. According to ticketing and analytics firm Maoyan, the film earned more over RMB 6.6 billion ($905 million), breaking all previous box office records.

With this achievement, Ne Zha 2 has surpassed 2021’s battle epic The Battle at Lake Changjin ($802 million), as well as previous record-holders Wolf Warrior 2 (2017, $791 million) and Hi, Mom (2021, $752 million).

The film, which was released on January 29 to coincide with Lunar New Year celebrations, thrilled viewers across the country, helping increase the holiday box office to a record-breaking $1.3 billion—an 18.8% rise from the previous year.

Following its amazing Lunar New Year debut, Ne Zha 2 shows no signs of slowing down, with Maoyan estimating it might reach $1.37 billion. If achieved, this would make it the first film to earn more than $1 billion in a single market.

The animated film is also on track to break the North American record set by Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, which earned $936.7 million domestically. If Ne Zha 2 exceeds this figure, it will become the most successful film in a single market in cinematic history.

Ne Zha 2, directed by Jiaozi (Yu Yang) and produced by Enlight Pictures, expands on the mythology built by its 2019 predecessor, captivating audiences with compelling stories and gorgeous animation. Its record-breaking performance solidifies China’s growing supremacy in the worldwide animation industry, highlighting the potential for local products to reach legendary box office success both domestically and internationally.