Nezha 2

Chinese Anime Film ‘Ne Zha 2’ Breaks Single-Market Box Office Record

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The animated film industry has been experiencing an unprecedented boom in recent years, and it’s not just limited to the U.S. Japan, Europe, and Korea are all producing more animated films annually. However, among them, China has emerged as a dominant force, delivering the first-ever film to surpass US$1 billion in a single market.

Ne Zha 2, a donghua loosely based on the novel “Investiture of the Gods”, has become the first film in global cinema history to break the US$1 billion box office mark in a single territory (China). It is also the only non-Hollywood film to achieve this feat.

No film in any country has ever reached this record at the domestic box office. The previous highest-grossing film in a single market was “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015), which earned US$936 million across North American theaters.

Released on January 29 during the Chinese New Year festivities, Ne Zha 2 has so far recorded 145 million admissions and is expected to surpass “Wolf Warrior 2” (160 million), which holds the record for most tickets sold in Chinese film history.

Additionally, Ne Zha 2 has claimed the top spot in China’s all-time box office rankings, overtaking “The Battle at Lake Changjin” as the country’s most successful film. Remarkably, this isn’t the end of its success, as projections indicate it could reach US$1.5 billion soon.

For international fans eagerly awaiting the sequel, Ne Zha 2 is set to hit theaters overseas. The film will debut in Australia, New Zealand, and other Oceania markets on February 13, followed by a U.S. and Canada release on February 14.

Made on a budget of only US$80 million, Ne Zha 2 serves as a direct sequel to the 2019 film, following the titular boy with magical powers and his friend Aobing. While their souls are saved, their physical forms face dissolution. Guided by the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, the heroes must overcome formidable challenges—including a horde of sea monsters—to prevent a catastrophe that threatens all of humanity.

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