After breaking all box office records in China, including hitting the 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) milestone on Thursday, the Chinese smash animated film "Ne Zha 2" has now set its sights on shattering records worldwide.

The characters Ne Zha and Ao Bing are projected on the towers of the Tianfu International Financial Center in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Feb. 13, 2025. The film's director and his company are based in Chengdu, and two cities in the province claim to be the birthplace of the Ne Zha legend. [Photo/China.org.cn]

When the historic moment arrived for the film to become the first to surpass 10 billion yuan at China's box office, it was more than a filmmaking achievement or cultural phenomenon — it was a source of national pride for Chinese filmmakers, the industry and the public. 

The China Film Association promptly issued a congratulatory message, stating: "This film has created a box office miracle, promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture and the modern zeitgeist, innovating the form of contemporary Chinese cinema, showcasing the relentless artistic pursuit of Chinese filmmakers, and greatly boosting the film industry's confidence. The glory of 'Ne Zha 2' is a highlight for Chinese cinema and, more importantly, a significant moment marking its rise from plateau to peak."

Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film follows the mythological figures Ne Zha and Ao Bing, who are reborn in bodies formed from lotuses after a catastrophe and must team up to face threats from vengeful dragon kings and a scheming god. It combines visually spectacular animation with a folklore-inspired narrative, delivering a blend of action, humor, heart and traditional Chinese culture. It involved five years of meticulous efforts from a 4,000-strong crew, as well as the combined forces of 138 Chinese animation and special effects companies.

During the Spring Festival holiday, the film grossed nearly 5 billion yuan in seven days, but its momentum shows no signs of slowing, thanks to the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences. It surpassed the previous record holder "The Battle at Lake Changjin," which took 5.77 billion yuan, on Feb. 6 to become the highest-grossing domestic film of all time. Since then, it has gone on to quickly set several other records. It is now the most-watched film ever by total viewers in Chinese box office history, with more than 200 million admissions registered by Feb. 13.

For the premium large format market, IMAX reported Thursday that "Ne Zha 2" had earned 562 million yuan in IMAX box office revenue within just 15 days of its release, surpassing "Avengers: Endgame" to become the highest-grossing IMAX release ever in China.

Audience members attend the premiere of "Ne Zha 2" in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

Meanwhile, "Ne Zha 2" has also broken several records on the world stage. According to Maoyan Pro, the film is now the highest-grossing film in a single market worldwide, surpassing the $936.66 million record set by "Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens" in North America. On Feb. 8, it became the world's first film to break into the $1 billion club in a single market, showcasing the immense potential of the Chinese market.

Besides setting the single-market record, it is also the third-fastest film to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide, achieving the feat in just 12 days, following "Avengers: Endgame" (five days) and "Avengers: Infinity War" (11 days). By Feb. 14, with its China-only total, it became the third-highest-grossing animated feature worldwide in history and has already climbed to 16th on the global box office chart, including both animated and live-action films.

A trailer for "Ne Zha 2" is displayed in Times Square, New York, Feb. 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

Closely following its staggering box office growth has become a daily source of interest and entertainment for many fans, while analysts, big data algorithms and AI models continue to revise their projections daily. The latest projection, released Tuesday night by Maoyan Pro, suggests the film could reach 16 billion yuan for its entire run in the Chinese mainland alone — a figure beyond even the wildest imagination of those in the Chinese film industry. If it manages to reach this milestone, it would become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the fifth-highest-grossing film in history, behind only the two "Avatar" installments, "Avengers: Endgame" and "Titanic." These achievements would be remarkable for a Chinese film in a ranking dominated by Hollywood juggernauts. Notably, all of this would be accomplished solely with its China total, without contributions from overseas markets, unlike other global top-grossers that rely heavily on international markets.

The potential for the film's worldwide earnings is also being unleashed. "Ne Zha 2" began its global rollout on Feb. 13 through distributor CMC Pictures in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, followed by the United States and Canada on Feb. 14, with reports that most showings are selling out quickly. The film will also be released in other international territories, including Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Greece later this year.

Performers stage a dragon dance outside the TCL Chinese Theatre at the premiere of "Ne Zha 2" in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

A grand North American premiere of "Ne Zha 2" was held at the fully packed landmark TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 8, receiving rave reviews. Hollywood producer Robert King praised the film's quality and scale, noting that Chinese films have made significant strides in storytelling in recent years. Georges Chamchoum, executive director of the Asian World Film Festival, expressed deep appreciation for the cultural evolution of Chinese cinema. Meanwhile, Oscar-winning producer Andre Morgan, known for producing "Million Dollar Baby," described the movie as "unbelievable."