MK sport paper-cutting enthusiasts from the Cultural Center of Jinta county, Jiuquan, Northwest China's Gansu Province, create Ne Zha artworks under the guidance of Lei Xia, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of paper-cutting, on February 11, 2025. Photo: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-11/14e4075d-72ec-4e7e-a502-7de45ab0960f.jpeg" />

In preparation for the Lantern Festival, paper-cutting enthusiasts from the Cultural Center of Jinta county, Jiuquan, Northwest China's Gansu Province, create Ne Zha artworks under the guidance of Lei Xia, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of paper-cutting, on February 11, 2025. Photo: VCG

Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2entered the global top 10 club with a milestone 12.05 billion yuan ($1.66 billion) at the global box office on Monday, according to data from China's ticketing platform Dengta.

Ne Zha 2is proving that Chinese cinema can not only dominate domestic markets but also hold its own charm in the highly competitive global arena. Surpassing blockbusters like The Lion Kingand The Avengers, it has become the first Asian film to enter the top 10 club of highest earning films at the global box office. It is now the second highest-grossing animated film of all time worldwide, following Inside Out 2.

The Chinese box-office hit was screened on Friday in a limited theatrical release in North America . The film's pre-sale box office and screenings have set a new record for Chinese-language films in North America over the past 20 years , with some theaters even adding midnight showings to meet audience demand.

Ne Zha 2has been released simultaneously in 770 theaters across more than 400 cities in 48 states in the US , as well as in 42 cities across 10 provinces in Canada. In Oceania , the film officially premiered on Thursday, with 124 theaters screening the film, setting a new record for Chinese-language films in the region over the past 20 years in terms of screenings, according to CCTV.