Basic Info
- Title: Ne Zha 2 (Chinese: 哪吒之魔童闹海; literally Nezha: The Demon Boy Churns the Sea) Wikipedia
- Genre: Animated fantasy, action-adventure, comedy
- Director & Writer: Jiaozi (Yu Yang) WikipediaPeople.com
- Studios: Chengdu Coco Cartoon, Beijing Enlight Media/Pictures, among others Wikipedia
- Runtime: 144 minutes (approximately 2 hours 24 minutes) Wikipedia
- Language: Mandarin (original); English-dubbed edition available for international release People.comThe Washington Post
- Budget: Around US $80 million (approx. ¥600 million) WikipediaThe Washington Post
- Premise: Following a catastrophe, Ne Zha’s soul survives, but his body is shattered. With the help of the sacred Seven-Colored Lotus, he and Ao Bing must rebuild and navigate their shared fate while battling wicked forces Wikipedia.
Box Office Performance & Records
Global Gross
- Total global earnings: US $2.228 billion Wikipedia
- Widely reported to be around US $2.2 billion, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the highest-grossing non-English-language film ever VultureThe Atlantic
China (Domestic Market)
- Tallied ¥15.46 billion (~US $2.25 billion) in China alone Wikipedia
- Broke records to become the highest-grossing film in Chinese box office history Wikipedia+1
- Achieved first-ever $1 billion and $2 billion gross in a single market (China) WikipediaThe Atlantic
- Surpassed Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 (US $1.6988B) to claim the title of top-earning animated film Animation MagazineU.OSU
- Projected total China gross reaching up to US $2.09 billion by end of its run U.OSU
International (Outside China)
- Overseas earnings: approximately US $63 million (some sources note around US $26 million) Wikipedia
- In North America, the English-dubbed version grossed modestly—around $1.5 million in a re-release, while early theatrical runs accumulated about $17 million total RedditThe Atlantic+1
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Budget | ~US $80 million |
| Global Gross | ~US $2.228 billion |
| China Earnings | ¥15.46 billion (~US $2+ billion) |
| International Gross | ~US $60–70 million |
| Records | Highest-grossing animated & non-English film; first animated film to cross $2B; #5 overall globally WikipediaVultureThe Atlantic |
Highlights & Cultural Impact
- Milestone Achiever: Ne Zha 2 is the first Chinese film, and in fact first non-English film, to gross over US $2 billion globally WikipediaThe Atlantic.
- Cultural Pride: Released during Lunar New Year 2025, it became a national sensation—symbolizing both cinematic excellence and patriotic sentiment The AtlanticAP News.
- Global Reach: The English version, spearheaded by A24 and featuring Michelle Yeoh, expanded its international footprint—though western box office results were modest compared to its domestic dominance VultureThe Washington PostPeople.comAP News.
- Artistic Ambition: Employing over 4,000 animators across more than 100 studios, the film’s production reflects a monumental collaborative effort grounded in Chinese myth and maximalist visual storytelling The AtlanticWikipedia.
Final Thoughts
Ne Zha 2 not only delivered on grand visual spectacle but also shattered expectations and box office records globally. With a compelling narrative rooted in Chinese folklore, and vast audience appeal, it firmly stands as one of cinema’s most successful animated achievements—blazing trails for non-Western animation on the international stage.
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