This $1.7B Chinese Animation With 99% on RT Just Stole the Crown From Inside Out 2
Inside Out 2's reign did not last long – viewers went back to the theaters to see this new Chinese hit several times.
Ne Zha, a mesmerizing animated blockbuster inspired by Chinese folklore, marked the 2019 debut of self-taught animator Jiaozi.
The First Ne Zha Movie Was a Commercial and Critical Success
Extensive work on visual style and plot twists made the movie a shining example of the commercial appeal of spectacular animation – on a $20 million budget, the film grossed nearly $742 million.
Captivating legends and magical characters that glorify the unique culture of China earned the film more than 20 awards at international awards and festivals.
Ne Zha was also nominated by China for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category, but the film did not make the shortlist for the award.
Ne Zha 2 Is Now the Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever
The sequel was even more successful – Ne Zha 2 became the highest-grossing animated film in the history of cinema, grossing $1.7 billion. It also surpassed the previous top-grossing movies, Inside Out 2, which earned $1.6 billion worldwide.
More than 99% of Ne Zha 2's box office revenue came from its native China. The movie was released worldwide on February 14 – it was expected that Ne Zha 2 would not even need to be released in other countries to set a record.
However, it was the international release that, unexpectedly for many Western viewers, made it possible for the movie to take the title.
Chinese Viewers Supported the Release of the Movie
In China, viewers have united together to support the film and increase ticket sales as much as possible. Some children also like the movie so much that they go to see it several times. Redditor Michikusa wrote:
“I teach elementary school in china. They’re going absolutely nuts over it. One of them has seen it seven times in theatre lol.”
This is the obsessive moviegoing that we respect.
What Is Ne Zha 2 About?
According to the plot, Ne Zha and his companion Prince Ao Bing, the son of the Dragon King, share one body due to the will of heaven. And now, they should embark on a new adventure.
In the previous installment, they almost died; this time, there would be much more perils. To get an artifact that will allow Ao to return to his own body, the two must complete three tests given them by the higher deities.