BEIJING: Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has ousted Disney’s “Inside Out 2” to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time, state media reported Tuesday, citing a domestic ticketing platform.
“Ne Zha 2” has packed out cinemas in China, where it has already claimed the title of the country’s biggest box-office release, since its release last month.
State news agency Xinhua, citing ticketing platform Maoyan, said on Tuesday that the movie had raked in more than 12.319 billion yuan (about $1.72 billion).
This milestone comes just 20 days after its release on January 29 during the Chinese New Year and one day after it reached the all-time global box office top 10.
That figure edged it past “Inside Out 2”, which took $1.7 billion following its release last year.
“Ne Zha 2” tells the tale of a rebellious young deity who uses his powers to battle formidable foes after his village is destroyed.
The film was released overseas this month and is expected to garner similar acclaim abroad.
The movie’s success is a testament to the growing influence of Chinese cinema on the global stage, especially in the animated movie world.
With its massive success, Ne Zha 2 isn’t just making waves in China but its also becoming a game-changer in the global animation industry.
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President Xi Jinping has urged more confidence in traditional culture and aims to build China into a cultural powerhouse by 2035.
The original “Ne Zha” became what was then China’s highest-grossing animated film after it was released in 2019.
But its sequel surpassed all former domestic box office record holders — including the 2019 sci-fi hit “The Wandering Earth” and 2021’s patriotic war film “The Battle at Lake Changjin” — in just nine days.
Drawing on the 16th-century novel “Investiture of the Gods”, “Ne Zha 2” has tapped into the growing demand for products inspired by traditional Chinese stories, and national pride in the country’s technological progress.
The achievement adds to an impressive list of records for the film, including the first to gross $1 billion in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club. – Agencies
