Ne Zha 2, the Chinese animated blockbuster, continues to dominate both the domestic and international box office, setting new records with each passing day. The film grossed RMB 1.1 billion ($152.9 million) from February 21–23, pushing its total earnings in China to $1.89 billion since its January 29 release, making it the highest-grossing film in the country’s history.
The film’s success extends beyond standard box office totals. Ne Zha 2 is also rewriting records in the Imax arena. Over the weekend, the film earned $15.2 million in Imax screenings, bringing its global Imax total to $131 million in just 26 days. This makes it the highest-grossing animated film in Imax history, surpassing The Polar Express by 69%, a record that had stood for over two decades. With Ne Zha 2 accounting for the majority of Imax’s earnings in the Lunar New Year period, Imax’s total for the season has hit $150 million.
The film’s strong performance in China is contributing to a significant uptick in the country’s overall box office figures. The weekend’s earnings pushed the total for China’s 2025 box office to $3.06 billion, a 74.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This puts China on track for one of its most prosperous first quarters in years.
Ne Zha 2 has also made waves in North America. The film maintained a top-five position in its second weekend, earning $3.06 million and bringing its North American total to $14.85 million. This makes it the highest-grossing Chinese-language film in North America since 2006. The film has surpassed previous milestones, including those set by Hero and Fearless.
Released by CMC Pictures in over 940 theaters across North America, Ne Zha 2 has found success in cities with large overseas Chinese populations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto. The film has also been distributed with English subtitles, broadening its appeal to a wider audience.
Ne Zha 2 has surpassed expectations on the global stage. With a total of 13.5 billion yuan ($1.86 billion) as of Sunday, the film has overtaken Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide. This achievement underscores the growing influence of Chinese cinema and its expanding global footprint.
While Ne Zha 2 has been the standout performer, other films in China are also contributing to strong box office totals. Detective Chinatown 1900 continues to perform well, adding $11.7 million for a cumulative total of $464.7 million. The long-running Boonie Bears franchise also remains a reliable draw, with Boonie Bears 11 earning $3.3 million over the weekend, bringing its total to $106.1 million.
