Chinese film Ne Zha 2 becomes highest-grossing animated film globally
REUTERS
Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 overtook Pixar's Inside Out 2 (2024) on Feb 18 to become the highest-grossing animated film globally, according to data from Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.
The fantasy film has amassed a total box office of 12.3 billion yuan (S$2.27 billion) including pre-sales and overseas earnings, making it the film with the eighth highest box office globally. It just edges out Inside Out 2, which earned US$1.69 billion (S$2.26 billion) around the world.
Over 99 per cent of Ne Zha 2's box office income has come from mainland China, starkly in contrast to Hollywood films, which typically rely on a more global distribution strategy.
Ne Zha 2 is a sequel to the 2019 hit Ne Zha. The film is based on a 16th century Chinese novel The Investiture Of The Gods, depicting a hero boy with magic power who tried to defend Chentangguan, a fortress town.
Directed by Sichuan-born director Yang Yu, also known as Jiaozi, the film propelled the 2025 Lunar New Year box office in the country to an all-time high.
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