Ne Zha 2 Breaks Records, Aims to Surpass Avatar (2009) at Global Box Office

The Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 has become the highest-grossing movie in China’s history, breaking domestic box office records and drawing attention to the country’s growing animation industry.

Based on a legendary mythological character, the film has amassed over 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) in ticket sales during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, according to ticket sales tracker Maoyan. It has now surpassed The Battle of Lake Changjin (2021), a Korean War propaganda film that earned around $900 million.

The film’s success is being hailed as a breakthrough for China’s domestic film industry, which has long lagged behind Hollywood despite its massive market. Ne Zha 2 is set for international release next week in the United States, Canada, and Australia, marking a key step toward global expansion.

To Chinese audiences, Ne Zha 2 represents a new era for homegrown animation, proving that locally produced films can compete on the global stage.

“It not only showcases the strong power of Chinese animation after its rise, but also demonstrates the infinite possibilities of traditional Chinese mythology in the modern context,” read a review on IMDb.

Some viewers are hopeful that the film could double its earnings and challenge the world’s highest-grossing movie of all time, Avatar (2009).

“Now it’s over to the Chinese people overseas to chip in,” read one comment on Weibo, encouraging the diaspora to support the film’s international release.

The Lunar New Year season is typically a lucrative period for China’s film industry, with total ticket sales hitting $1.3 billion during the holiday, a sign of increasing consumer spending that authorities have been keen to promote.

Beyond its domestic success, Ne Zha 2 is the first movie to cross $1 billion in a single market, according to Hollywood publication Deadline.

The film has received widespread praise for its storytelling and visual effects. Merchandise tied to the movie, including figurines of its characters, has been flying off shelves as fans flock to cinemas.

Ne Zha 2 builds on the success of its predecessor, 2019’s Ne Zha, which earned over $725 million and remains one of China’s top-grossing films.

With its strong domestic performance and upcoming international release, Ne Zha 2 is poised to solidify China’s place in the global film industry.