The Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” is taking North America by storm, earning rave reviews from audiences and Oscar judges alike. On its opening day, the film garnered an impressive $3.1 million, securing the fourth spot on the North American box office chart.
Officially released in North America on February 14, “Ne Zha 2” set new two-decade records for pre-sale box-office earnings and screen counts among Chinese-language films in the region. As of 6 p.m. on February 16, the film has amassed a total box office of 11.75 billion yuan (around $1.62 billion), including pre-sales and overseas earnings. This achievement places it among the top 11 highest-grossing films worldwide and makes it the second highest-grossing animated film of all time globally, trailing only “Inside Out 2.”
Audiences have been captivated by the film’s rich Chinese cultural elements, breathtaking animation, and high production quality. Many viewers appreciate the opportunity to explore Chinese culture through the film. Zac, a moviegoer from the United States, shared his excitement: “This is something that’s for all ages. You can learn something from it and maybe get insight into a culture. There are moments in the animation that are really striking visually. Every cinema I’ve seen has been packed. So there’s obviously a hunger for films like this and films to learn more about other cultures.”
Oscar judge Sheila Sofian expressed her admiration after watching the film in Los Angeles, praising its cutting-edge production design and compelling storytelling. “I’m so impressed on so many different levels with the accomplishments of this particular film. Because I had already seen the previous film, I was sort of expecting the same level, which was brilliant. But this grows even higher in terms of production design, sound design, and music. The story itself was so complicated, and all the twists and turns kept me guessing the entire time. So I was very engaged, sort of on the edge of my seat the whole time,” she said.
Sofian also voiced her hope to see “Ne Zha 2” compete at next year’s Oscars, where she would have the opportunity to vote for it. Another Oscar judge, Alan Ellasof, described the film as a major achievement, praising its action design, emotional appeal, and philosophical elements.
“Ne Zha 2” is currently screening in 770 theaters across over 400 cities in 48 U.S. states, as well as in 42 cities across 10 provinces in Canada. In Oceania, the film was officially released on February 13, with screenings in 124 cinemas—setting a 20-year record for the largest number of screenings for a Chinese-language film in the region.
The film is also making history by becoming the first to exceed $1 billion in a single market and the first non-Hollywood film to surpass $1 billion in global box-office earnings.
