'Ne Zha 2' becomes highest-grossing animated movie of all time globally

Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has dethroned Disney and Pixar’s 2024 picture “Inside Out 2” to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time globally.

According to ticketing platform Maoyan, as of yesterday evening, the film’s global earnings — including presales — had exceeded 12.319 billion yuan (US$1.7 billion), the record made by “Inside Out 2.”

This milestone came just 20 days after its release Jan. 29 during the Chinese New Year and one day after it reached the all-time global box office top 10.

People pose for photos in front of the poster of the Chinese animated feature "Ne Zha 2" at IMAX Sydney in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 11. Xinhua

The achievement adds to an impressive list of records for the film, including the first to gross US$1 billion in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club. Current projections from Maoyan and box office trackers suggest that the film is on track to surpass 15 billion yuan in total domestic earnings.

Industry analysts have pointed to the film’s success as a testament to the vitality, global appeal, and creative strength of Chinese culture.

Directed by Yang Yu, commonly known as Jiaozi, the film marks a significant leap forward from its predecessor, the animated hit “Ne Zha,” which grossed 5 billion yuan to top the Chinese box office charts in 2019.

Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, praised the film for skillfully blending traditional Chinese mythology with modern storytelling, creating a narrative that speaks to contemporary sensibilities.

Alongside its cultural depth, “Ne Zha 2” has earned widespread acclaim for its technical mastery. Featuring around 2,000 special effects shots and contributions from 138 animation studios, “the film showcases the collaborative power of China’s creative ecosystem and heralds an upgrade in both the film industry and its aesthetic standards,” noted Chen Xuguang, director of the Institute of Film, Television, and Theatre at Peking University.

Largely driven by “Ne Zha 2,” China’s box office revenue during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday hit a record high, injecting much-needed optimism into the country’s film industry, which faced a challenging year in 2024 when earnings dropped 23% from 2023 and 34% from the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.

Beyond its domestic success, “Ne Zha 2” is poised to serve as a cultural bridge, offering global audiences a glimpse into China’s rich mythology and traditions. The film has already opened in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in North America.

“It blew my mind,” said Sheila Sofian, a professor at the University of Southern California and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She lauded the film for its production design, sound design, and music in a video interview shared by China Media Group.

Highlighting the film’s universal themes, she added, “We could all connect with them.”