Photo: People's Daily
Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 topped the global animated film box office chart on Tuesday, surpassing Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide. As of 7:35 pm on Tuesday, Ne Zha 2 has achieved a box office revenue of 12.32 billion yuan ($1.6984 billion), according to ticketing platform Dengta.
Inside Out 2 is an animated coming-of-age film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures in 2024, which has already grossed over $1.6983 billion globally, according to international film review platform IMDb.
Shi Wenxue, a veteran cultural critic based in Beijing, told the Global Times that Ne Zha 2 topping the global animated film box office not only highlights the rise and market potential of Chinese cinema with a growing recognition and anticipation for high-quality content, but also demonstrates the global influence of Chinese animation in both technology and culture.
According to CCTV, Ne Zha 2 has been released simultaneously in 770 theaters across more than 400 cities in 48 states in the US, as well as in 42 cities across 10 provinces in Canada.
In Oceania, the film officially premiered on Thursday, with 124 theaters screening the film, setting a new record for Chinese-language films in the region over the past 20 years in terms of screenings.
The X account @DiscussingFilm posted shortly after the film's release, predicting that Ne Zha 2 could become the first animated film in history to gross over $2 billion.
The BBC reported on February 10 that Ne Zha 2 has now become the highest-grossing film ever in China.
Currently, the film holds a rating of 8.3 on IMDb. Though for some foreign audiences, Ne Zha 2 is not a film they are familiar with or well-acquainted with, some international audience still gave the film high ratings explaining their reasoning that "While non-Chinese viewers may not fully understand the story, the action and visual effects are impressive enough to leave a lasting impression."
Shi noted that in the past, US animated films, especially those by Pixar, focused on the global market both in terms of industry and storytelling. Through universal emotional resonance and innovative yet accessible narratives, these films were able to reach a diverse audience. This is also why Inside Out 2 topped the global animated film box office chart.
"Today, despite being based on Chinese mythology, Ne Zha 2 still presents a certain cultural barrier for many overseas viewers. However, the film similarly features universal emotional appeal, a visually striking and unique aesthetic, and the positive word-of-mouth effects brought by its box-office success. This will encourage more viewers to seek out additional information to satisfy their curiosity, gradually reducing the barriers to entry and expanding its audience," Shi said.
By Sunday at 9:14 pm, China's 2025 annual box office (including pre-sales) had surpassed 20 billion yuan, setting a new record for the fastest-ever 20 billion yuan milestone in Chinese film history. Ne Zha 2 led the pack with an overwhelming 59.4 percent market share.
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