In less than a month of release, the Chinese blockbusterNe Zha 2has established itselfamong the 10 highest-grossing films in global box office history. The animated sequel has earned the vast majority of its global haul in China, becoming the highest-grossing film in a single country. As it entered its fourth weekend in theaters,Ne Zha 2hit another humongous milestone, inching closer to breaking the records of two mammoth franchise films. The movie has already overtakenInside Out 2to become the biggest animated movie in history.
Produced on a reported budget of $80 million,Ne Zha2has now passed the $1.8 billion mark worldwide; of this total, around $1.78 billion has come from China, while around $12 million has come from North America.Ne Zha 2is playing in limited release domestically, but that didn’t stop it from leaving its mark at the box office this past week. The movie debuted during the lucrative Chinese New Year period. During the course of its run,Ne Zha 2not only overtookThe Battle of Lake Changjinto become the biggest Chinese film ever, but it also surpassed the lifetime global hauls of landmark movies such asJurassic World,Top Gun: Maverick, andBarbie.
The Chinese platform Maoyan is projecting a final haul of over $2 billion, which would automatically putNe Zha 2ahead ofAvengers: Infinity WarandStar Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. The movie will eventually find itself in the top five of the all-time list, behind onlyTitanic,Avatar: The Way of Water,Avengers: Endgame, andAvatar. It’s an astonishing achievement, which proves just how resoundingly the Chinese box office has evolved in the last decade. Not that long ago, the Middle Kingdom would rely on Hollywood movies, but it’s now mostly self-sustaining.
China Is Dominating the Global Box Office This Year
Four of the five biggest hits this year are Chinese, while the highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2025 isCaptain America: Brave New World.Ne Zha 2doesn’t have an officialRotten Tomatoesscore yet, although each of the four reviews currently listed is positive. What it does have, however, is a near-perfect 99% audience score on the platform, earning it a “verified hot” badge of honor. Directed byJiaozi,Ne Zha 2serves as a sequel to 2019’sNe Zha, which earned $742 million worldwide. You can watchNe Zha 2in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
