‘Ne Zha 2’ Smashes Records, Becomes Highest-Grossing Movie In a Single Market, Surpassing ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’!

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The Chinese animated film ‘Ne Zha 2’ has broken records, generating more than 7 billion RMB, or approximately $960.5 million, within China. This surpasses the previous record held by ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ which grossed $936.7 million in North America. Since its debut during the Lunar New Year (January 28 – February 4), ‘Ne Zha 2’ has been a massive success and continues to shatter box office records.

During the Chinese holiday season, the movie surpassed previous records for the largest box office earnings, eclipsing ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’ and claiming the title as China’s highest-grossing film of all time on Thursday.

Currently, ‘Ne Zha 2’ is doing exceptionally well and is expected to hit the $1 billion mark in China, making it the first movie to accomplish this feat in a single market. Some projections even suggest that the film could generate as much as 10.8 billion RMB ($1.48 billion) by the end of its run. As of now, it has already amassed an impressive 7.06 billion RMB ($968.8 million).

Under the direction of Yang Yu (also recognized as Jiaozi), ‘Ne Zha 2’ serves as a follow-up to the 2019 film. Drawing inspiration from a well-known Chinese legend, it carries on the tale of Ne Zha, a young hero with extraordinary powers. In this motion picture, Ne Zha and his companion Aobing struggle against a perilous predicament that threatens to annihilate mankind. Throughout their journey, they encounter sea monsters and numerous obstacles, receiving aid from the immortal Taiyi Zhenren who assists them in restoring their bodies.

2025’s initial phase has marked a robust commencement for China’s film industry, particularly following a challenging year in 2024 when box office earnings plummeted by 25%. Notably, during the Lunar New Year, an all-time high of 9.51 billion RMB ($1.3 billion) was generated at the box office, surpassing the previous record of 8.02 billion RMB. This impressive performance can be attributed in part to a government program that provided moviegoers with discounts and subsidies, thereby stimulating ticket sales nationwide.

Domestic films such as ‘Ne Zha 2’ are currently thriving, but it remains unclear how Hollywood productions will fare in China moving forward. There seems to be an increasing trend among Chinese viewers towards local films, which might influence the success of international movies within the market.

Nonetheless, it’s anticipated that with more individuals visiting movie theaters, there could be an uptick for Hollywood productions as well. The full picture will likely unfold by late 2025, particularly after major films such as ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Avatar: Fire & Ash’ hit the screens.

Currently, ‘Ne Zha 2’ is causing a stir, not just in China but globally as well. It’s breaking records for box office achievements within the film industry.

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2025-02-08 14:44