Even Avengers 1 and 2 Have Lost the Battle: China’s Ne Zha 2 Box Office Collection Will Make Disney and Pixar Nervous
- Ne Zha 2 surpassed the box office collection of Pixar's Inside Out 2.
- Critics suggested Ne Zha 2 has advanced animation, technology, and brilliant storytelling.
- 99% of the movie’s sales have come from Mainland China
Directed by Jiaozi, the Chinese animated fantasy adventure film Ne Zha 2 was released on January 29, 2025, which is also the first day of Chinese New Year, and has received critical acclaim. The movie is a sequel to Ne Zha, which was released in 2019 and is based on the 16th-century Chinese novel titled The Investiture of the Gods. The story follows a hero boy with magic power who tries to defend Chentangguan, a fortress town.
Upon release, the animated fantasy adventure film, which features the voices of actors Lü Yanting, Han Mo, Lü Qi, and more, has managed to impress the audience and critics. The filmmaker had previously mentioned that the sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha would depend on its success, and it managed to gross about $726.2 million worldwide. The sequel has not only received positive reviews but also broken several records, making it the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.
China’s Ne Zha 2 surpasses Pixar’s Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated movie
Released on the first day of Chinese New Year, Jiaozi’s Ne Zha 2, according to reports by Deadline, opened to about $7.2 million on 660 screens. The story picks up from where 2019’s Ne Zha left off, as Demon Orb Ne Zha, voiced by Joseph Cao, and Spirit Orb Aobing, voiced by Mo Han, must share a body for 7 days as Ne Zha battles dragons to save his hometown.
The reports have stated that the sequel has managed to surpass the records of Pixar’s Inside Out 2 as it grosses $1.5 billion. Surprisingly, NBC reported that 99% of the movie’s sales have come from Mainland China, in contrast to Hollywood films, which typically rely on a more global distribution strategy. The figures shared by the publication come just 20 days after its release.
Variety stated that Marvel made its first box office success of 2025 in China with Anthony Mackie starring in Captain America: Brave New World. It grossed about $10.6 million. Ne Zha 2’s successful box office collection also makes it the highest-grossing IMAX release in China, surpassing Avengers: Endgame, which grossed $83.5 million in 2019.
Maoyan’s analyst Lai Li shared (via English News),
This success has not only boosted the confidence of creators but also showcased the resilience and immense growth potential of the Chinese market.
Reports suggested that moviegoers were deeply moved by the portrayal of Chinese cultural values and spiritual strength. The publication noted that fans loved the film’s Chinese aesthetics and rich historical and cultural depth.
Collider noted the movie overtook The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Top Gun: Maverick, Barbie, and Furious 7’s lifetime grosses and is expected to very soon cross the $2 billion mark and surpass Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens‘ box office collection.
Filmmaker Jiaozi talks about Ne Zha 2
Jiaozi reportedly, with the help of his parents, made his debut with a short animation movie, Smash the Big Watermelon. In an interview via English News, the filmmaker reflected on the personal journey his recent release took him on. He shared,
The first step was creating something I loved, and domestic audiences loved it too. Over time, I’ve worked to improve it, to refine my craft. I believe that one day, new ideas, deeper meanings, and new souls will emerge from it, and the whole world will be able to appreciate it.
The publication mentioned that beyond breaking several records, Ne Zha 2 has served as a cultural bridge, offering moviegoers across the world a glimpse into the rich mythology and traditions of China.
The success of Ne Zha 2 can also be seen as a landmark as China’s domestic film industry took the opportunity to showcase to the world a deeply Chinese, tradition-rooted movie. The enhanced state-of-the-art special effects in the movie were also appreciated.
A data analyst, Summer Wang, who attended the premiere of the movie in Los Angeles, shared with CNN that even the ones who were previously not interested in animated movies are drawn to Ne Zha 2. The reason being, one, the word of mouth in China and, two, the enthusiasm amongst people about it.
Critics have stated that with the advanced animation, technology, and brilliant storytelling with family-friendly content, Ne Zha 2 is a complete package.
Ne Zha 2 is available to watch in cinemas. Ne Zha is available to stream on Prime Video via VOD.
