China: Ne Zha 2 rakes in $1bn in days and stirs national pride

An animated film about a young boy who uses magical powers to fight demons has become China's highest-grossing movie, sparking a strong sense of national pride. The film's success not only reflects the rise of Chinese animated films but also demonstrates the infinite possibilities of Chinese traditional mythology in a modern context.

According to data from the ticketing platform Maoyan, "Ne Zha 2" grossed over 8 billion yuan (approximately $1.1 billion USD; £910 million GBP) during the week-long Spring Festival holiday. This achievement broke the record set by "The Battle at Lake Changjin" released in 2021, a propaganda film about the Korean War in the 1950s, which grossed approximately $900 million USD.

"Ne Zha 2" is hailed as a symbol of progress in Chinese cinema, which has long lagged behind Hollywood despite its huge domestic market. The film has not only been praised for its script and visual effects, but also the figurines of its movie characters are selling well offline, attracting a large number of fans to cinemas.

Riding on its domestic success, "Ne Zha 2" will be released overseas next week, including in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Chinese audiences believe that "Ne Zha 2" shows that domestic films are becoming increasingly competitive globally. A review on IMDB wrote: "It not only showcases the powerful force after the rise of Chinese animation, but also demonstrates the infinite possibilities of Chinese traditional mythology in a modern context."

In addition to setting new box office records in China, "Ne Zha 2" is also the first film ever to gross over $1 billion USD in a single market, according to Hollywood media outlet Deadline. Some hope it can earn another $1 billion USD, surpassing the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, 2009's "Avatar." "Now it's the overseas Chinese's turn to contribute," wrote a comment on Weibo. The success of "Ne Zha 2" also continues the success of the 2019 film "Ne Zha," which grossed over $725 million USD and is the fifth-highest-grossing film in China.