Ne Zha 2 Becomes First Movie to Top $1.5 Billion in a Single Global Market

As of 02:00 on February 13, 2025 (19:00 on February 13, Beijing time), “Ne Zha 2” has broken a number of records for global and Chinese-language films, including the following major achievements:

Global Single Market Box Office Record

It has reached the top spot for the highest box office in a single market globally.

As of 9 PM on February 7, the box office totaled 6.7922 billion yuan (approximately $950 million USD), surpassing "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" which had a North American box office of $936 million USD, making it the highest-grossing film in a single market in global film history.

By 12 PM on February 9, the box office exceeded 7.5 billion yuan (about $1.03 billion USD), becoming the first non-Hollywood film to surpass $1 billion USD in a single market.

According to online platform data (Lighthouse Professional), By 19 PM on February 13, the total box office (including spot screenings and pre-sales) of “Ne Zha 2” has exceeded 10 billion yuan, making it the first movie in Chinese film history to break the 10 billion yuan mark, and ranked among the top 3 animated movies in the global box office, and No. 17 in the global box office history.

As of February 14 (February 15 Beijing time), the film's box office exceeded 11 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars), making it the first non-Hollywood film to exceed 1.5 billion U.S. dollars at the box office in a single market.

The box office is still on the rise, and it may become the No. 1 animated movie in the world.

Breaking Hollywood's Monopoly

The film has become the 39th film in global cinema history to exceed $1.03 billion USD in box office, and it is the only non-Hollywood film among them, setting a new record for single market box office.

• It has become the first Asian film to enter the top 40 of the global box office.
• It ranks among the top 7 in the global animated film box office.
• The number of viewers (including pre-sales) has exceeded 160 million, making it the top film in Chinese cinema history by viewership.
• It has broken over 30 records in Chinese cinema history, including for animated films, comedy films, cumulative box office, and single-day box office rebound records.

Additionally, the overseas presales have been enthusiastic, with some showtimes sold out in North America, Australia, and other regions. The IMDb rating reached 8.2, sparking anticipation among audiences from various countries. The box office performance of "Nezha 2" not only broke the global single-market box office ceiling but also signifies the comprehensive maturity of Chinese animated films in terms of technology, narrative, and commercialization.

Its success stems from the innovative expression of traditional culture (such as the integration of Sanxingdui cultural elements) and the enhancement of industrial production capabilities (such as the use of 1900 special effects shots). As it continues to be released overseas, the film is likely to further reshape the global box office landscape and carve new paths for the export of Chinese culture.

Chinese New Year Period Defies Expectations

Release period:

"Nezha 2" premiered in Mainland China from January 28 to February 4 (Lunar New Year holiday), showing a remarkable box office performance, quickly breaking multiple box office records for the Chinese New Year slot.

Annual new record:

Starting off 2025, the total box office for the Chinese New Year period in Mainland China reached 16.8 billion yuan (approximately $2.3 billion), surpassing the previous record of 8.02 billion yuan. As the leading contender of the Chinese New Year slot, "Nezha 2" also capitalized on the massive audience turnout and market enthusiasm.

Hollywood Comparison and Future Prospects

Surpassing "Star Wars: The Force Awakens":

In 2015, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" garnered approximately $936.7 million in the North American box office, maintaining the record for the highest-grossing film in a single market globally for a long time. Now, "Nezha 2" has successfully shattered this "ceiling," drawing attention from the global film industry.

Currently, professional institutions predict that the film could ultimately reach a box office of 16 billion yuan (about $1.642 billion USD). If it achieves this, it could potentially surpass "The Lion King" (approximately $1.662 billion USD) and enter the top ten highest-grossing films worldwide. Let's wait and see!

Film Synopsis and Reception

Director and Previous Work:

Directed by Yang Yu (known artistically as "Jiaozi"), his previous film "Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child" (2019) also earned over 5 billion yuan in mainland China, becoming one of the most influential domestic animated films of its time.

Story Background:

"Nezha 2" continues the worldview of its predecessor, mainly revolving around Nezha and Ao Bing, two youths with magical powers. Their souls are saved, but their physical bodies are at risk of disintegration. In the film, the two heroes must not only rebuild their bodies but also join forces to fight against sudden threats such as sea monsters, striving to save human society in times of crisis.

North American Release:

The film is distributed in the North American market by CMC (China Media Capital) and will officially premiere on February 14, Valentine's Day, giving overseas audiences the opportunity to experience the charm of this Chinese mythological fantasy on the big screen.

The Impact on the Future

Potential of the Chinese Film Market

With the explosive performance of "Nezha 2" and the increasing affection of Chinese audiences for domestic films in recent years, the future Chinese film market is likely to continue to be dominated by local content.

Hollywood Opportunities and Challenges

The "overtaking" of Hollywood blockbusters by "Nezha 2" once again demonstrates the immense potential of Chinese local productions in terms of quality and box office appeal. Although the long-term impact on Hollywood imports is currently uncertain, it is foreseeable that as the market matures and audience demands evolve, the collaboration between Hollywood and Chinese film companies may move towards a new model.

From the box office exceeding 6.792 billion yuan on February 7th, to 8 billion yuan on February 9th, to 10 billion RMB on February 13th. A new record of exceeding 1 billion dollars in a single global market, with future box office potential still unknown. Ne Zha 2 continues to redefine the upper limits of Chinese-language cinema. As the new global single-market box office champion, this animated film rooted in traditional Chinese mythology not only demonstrates the rapid development of Chinese-language films, but also brings more surprises and expectations to the global film industry.