“Ne Zha 2” has shattered box office records since its premiere on January 29, 2025, during China’s Lunar New Year. The movie has made over $1.69 billion globally as of today, February 24, 2025, with $1.66 billion coming from China alone. It has surpassed “Inside Out 2” ($1.68 billion in 2024) to become the highest-grossing animated picture ever. Currently, it has surpassed both “Jurassic World” and “The Lion King” (2019) to become the ninth highest-grossing film worldwide.
Below is a summary of its astounding records:
- Fastest to $1 Billion in a Single Market: Earned $1 billion in China in just 11 days, surpassing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($936.7 million in North America).
- Top-grossing film in a single market: With $1.66 billion in China, it is the first to surpass $1 billion in a single region, exceeding all previous records.
- China’s Box Office King: “The Battle at Lake Changjin” ($913 million) outperformed in its first week, becoming China’s highest-grossing picture of all time.
- Global Animation Crown: Edged out “Inside Out 2” to become the highest-grossing animated film in the world.
- Non-English Milestone: The first non-English-language film to enter the global top 10, presently ranked ninth, with a chance to climb higher—possibly surpassing “Avengers: Infinity War” ($2.05 billion).
- Single-day Record: Over $96 million was earned in one day, the highest total for a Chinese animated film.
- Imax features: China’s $22 million third-weekend Imax gross is the world’s third-highest, after only “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
The film’s $80 million budget has resulted in a big profit—potentially 25 times its cost if it reaches $2 billion in China, which it is on track to do by March 30 with its extended run. Its international rollout, which began with a $10 million debut in North America on February 14, has also set new records, such as the largest Chinese-language film launch in the United States and Canada in 20 years.
Beyond China, its worldwide implementation is accelerating. Pre-sales in Japan have reached $2 million ahead of the March 1 release date, while Southeast Asian markets such as Malaysia and Singapore have combined to add $5 million. Critics on X praise its longevity; one post described its 70% second-weekend dip as high but irrelevant—”It’s already made history.”
Another estimate is that it may reach $2.5 billion globally if overseas markets adopt it like China has. For the time being, “Ne Zha 2” is more than just a record-breaking film; it’s a bold declaration that Chinese filmmaking can lead the way globally.
Posts on X back up the hype: one user marveled at its $1 billion gain in 11 days in China alone, dubbing it a world record, while another hailed it as a historic success for Chinese animation, grossing $1.69 billion and shaking up the worldwide movie office.
This is more than just a financial win; it’s also a cultural flex. Based on the 16th-century “Investiture of the Gods,” “Ne Zha 2” combines breathtaking animation with a rebellious, accessible story that appeals to audiences of all ages. Its success demonstrates that China’s animation sector is no longer playing catch-up—it is dictating the pace.