Ne Zha 2, China's box-office sensation, smashed through the key 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) mark in ticket receipts on Thursday, including presales and overseas revenue, signaling the vast potential of the domestic cinema industry.
Since its debut on Jan 29, the film - a sequel to the 2019 top-grossing movie in China Ne Zha - has consistently broken box office records, with audience enthusiasm showing no signs of abating.
Its latest achievement saw it leap ahead of Hollywood blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie to become the world's third highest-grossing animated movie.
Visitors pose for photos with a statue of Nezha, the character of the animation blockbuster Ne Zha 2, in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Saturday. [Photo provided to China Daily]
It also makes Ne Zha 2 the 17th highest-grossing film in global cinematic history. This production is the first non-Hollywood movie to be part of the top 30 list.
Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film employs a bold and innovative narrative to reinterpret the titular character, a renowned figure in Chinese mythology.
[Photo provided to China Daily]
The mythology surrounding Nezha spread across China in the wake of the arrival of Buddhism. Studies of Buddhist literature from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) have found that Nezha was depicted as the third son of one of the four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism.
In Buddhist works, Nezha often appears together with his father, carrying a magical miniature pagoda. His duty is to help him ward off evil spirits, and protect people.
Also depicted as a mischievous celestial being in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods), the character evolved into a heroic figure who fights against feudal patriarchy in the 1979 classic animated film Nezha Conquers the Dragon King.
In the 2019 film, the character's traditional image was subverted with an unconventional design — a child sporting dark circles under his eyes and a gap-toothed smile. Through humor and unexpected twists, the movie captivated audiences by recounting an unlikely hero who fights his unfair fate. This year's sequel has adhered to the familiar formula but expanded upon it, delving into a deeper and broader theme and resulting in all characters possessing profound personalities.
Yang Chenxi, a 17-year-old senior middle school student from Huzhou, Zhejiang province, resonated with the spirit of the movie. She watched Ne Zha five times and Ne Zha 2once during the Spring Festival holiday.
"There might be a similarity between Nezha and me. We both care how other people see us," she says. "This version of Nezha is different from the typical storyline of a divine being reincarnated to save others and himself. Instead, it begins with Nezha as an underestimated demon who gradually proves himself, defying fate to start anew."
[Photo provided to China Daily]
According to Maoyan Pro, a leading industry tracker, the movie is projected to exceed 16 billion yuan in total box office earnings.
Lai Li, an analyst with Maoyan Pro, said that it is a historic moment to witness Ne Zha 2 becoming China's first film to gross over 10 billion yuan in the global market.
Ne Zha 2 was released in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea on Thursday, one day ahead of its release in the US and Canada.
Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, attributed the box office achievement of the film to its incorporation of Chinese mythology with modern expressions.
He also pointed out the success proves the global appeal of Chinese stories, but the industry still needs more diversified themes and mechanism to cultivate talents.
Lynn Wu, a 43-year-old Chinese mother of two residing in Brisbane, told China Daily that Ne Zha 2 has ignited widespread enthusiasm within the Chinese community.
"We are incredibly proud that China has produced such a visually stunning and captivating animated film. Almost everyone on my WeChat moments is discussing plans to visit theaters and watch this movie," she added.
