Smash-hit Chinese animated sequel Ne Zha 2 has surged passed another box-office record, becoming the highest grossing film in a single market of all time. The Chengdu Coco Cartoon Co., Ltd. production distributed by Beijing Enlight Pictures has earned a stunning $960.5 million in its domestic release, beating the previous record set by Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens in the U.S. ($936.7M, 2015).
Chinese B.O. tracker Maoyan has been furiously updating its projections for Ne Zha 2 as the film continues to draw huge numbers, and now puts the mythic action-comedy on track to reach $1.48 billion.
Ne Zha 2 released January 29 for the Lunar New Year holiday, and broke the record for the highest single-day gross of a Chinese animated film, surpassing CN¥700 million (~US$96 million) and is the highest-grossing animated feature release in China of all time. As of Sunday, the film was expected to hit a number of other records, including the highest-grossing non-U.S.-produced film of all time (animation and live-action), highest-grossing Chinese film of all time and the first pic to have a billion-dollar single market run.
Inspired by the tales of the 16th century novel Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha 2 is directed by returning helmer Jiaozi (Yu Yang), and continues the adventures of the super strong demon-slaying hero. In this installment, Ne Zha teams up with the dragon prince Ao Bing to protect the land from sea monsters.
The first Ne Zha movie made $725 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing animated film in China and the highest-grossing animated film not produced in the U.S. that year, as well as the fourth highest-grossing animated film worldwide in 2019 and the fourth-highest grossing Chinese film of all time.
Ne Zha 2 is kicking off a limited release in the U.S. and Canada on February 14, as well as in Australia, New Zealand and other Oceania markets on Feb. 13.
In other box office news, Disney’s photoreal CG prequel Mufasa: The Lion King has totted up $671M in worldwide box office as of this weekend, adding $8.5M from 52 overseas markets (cume $432.9M international, $235M domestic), and is now the seventh-highest-grossing release of 2024.
And the darling hybrid family flick Paddington in Peru, the marmalade-munching bear’s third feature film outing, has reached $104M in international box office. The pic is due to open in the U.S. and Canada on February 14, with Sony Pictures handling distribution for the StudioCanal-backed sequel.
[Sources: Gazettely, Variety]
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