Photo: People’s Everyday
Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 was the top of the box office collection diagram for global animated films on Tuesday, becoming the most sold animated film worldwide, surpassing Inside Out 2. As of 7:35pm on Tuesday, NE Zha 2 had reached 123.2 billion yuan ($1698.4 billion) box office revenue, according to ticket platform Dengta.
According to the International Film Review Platform IMDB, Inside Out 2 is an animated adult film produced in 2024 by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.
Shi Wenxue, a veteran cultural critic based in Beijing, said that the Global Times has seen a rise in awareness and expectations for high-quality content, and the rise of Chinese films and markets. It not only highlights possibilities, but also shows the global impact of Chinese animation on both technology and culture.
According to CCTV, Ne Zha 2 is being released simultaneously in 770 theatres in over 400 cities in 48 US states and 42 cities in 10 Canadian provinces.
In Oceania, the film officially premiered on Thursday, with 124 theatres showing the film and setting new records of Chinese films in terms of screening over the past 20 years.
X Account @DiscussingFilm, posted shortly after the film’s release, predicts that Ne Zha 2 could become an animated film in history with a total of over $2 billion.
On February 10, the BBC reported that Ne Zha 2 is now China’s best-selling film to date.
Currently, the film holds an 8.3 rating on IMDB. For some foreign audiences, Ne Zha 2 is not a film they are familiar with, and not a well-thought-out film, some international audiences say, “Non-Chinese viewers are Although they may not fully understand the story, they still gave high praise to the film that explains their reasoning. The action and visual effects are impressive enough to leave a lasting impression.”
Shi pointed out in the past that American animated films, particularly Pixar’s films, have focused on the global market in both 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 2 has tops the global animated film box office collection charts.
“Even though it is based on Chinese mythology today, Ne Zha 2 still presents certain cultural barriers to many overseas audiences. However, the film is similarly universal sentiment. It features a visually impressive and unique aesthetic, and a positive word-of-mouth effect. It was brought by box office revenue.
By 9:14pm on Sunday, China’s 2025 annual box office revenue (including pre-sale) had surpassed 20 billion yuan yuan, setting a new record of 20 billion yuan milestones, the fastest in Chinese film history. Ne Zha 2 led the pack with an overwhelming market share of 59.4%.
