Photo: People's Daily

Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2topped the global animated film box office chart on Tuesday,MKsport surpassing Inside Out 2to become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide. As of 7:35 pm on Tuesday, Ne Zha 2has achieved a box office revenue of 12.32 billion yuan ($1.6984 billion), according to ticketing platform Dengta.

Inside Out 2is an animated coming-of-age film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures in 2024, which has already grossed over $1.6983 billion globally, according to international film review platform IMDb.

Shi Wenxue, a veteran cultural critic based in Beijing, told the Global Times that Ne Zha 2topping the global animated film box office not only highlights the rise and market potential of Chinese cinema with a growing recognition and anticipation for high-quality content, but also demonstrates the global influence of Chinese animation in both technology and culture.

According to CCTV, 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. 

The X account @DiscussingFilm posted shortly after the film's release, predicting that Ne Zha 2could become the first animated film in history to gross over $2 billion.

The BBC reported on February 10 that Ne Zha 2has now become the highest-grossing film ever in China.

Currently, the film holds a rating of 8.3 on IMDb. Though for some foreign audiences, Ne Zha 2is not a film they are familiar with or well-acquainted with, some international audience still gave the film high ratings explaining their reasoning that "While non-Chinese viewers may not fully understand the story, the action and visual effects are impressive enough to leave a lasting impression."

Shi noted that in the past, US animated films, especially those by Pixar, focused on the global market both in terms of industry and storytelling. Through universal emotional resonance and innovative yet accessible narratives, these films were able to reach a diverse audience. This is also why Inside Out 2topped the global animated film box office chart.

"Today, despite being based on Chinese mythology, Ne Zha 2still presents a certain cultural barrier for many overseas viewers. However, the film similarly features universal emotional appeal, a visually striking and unique aesthetic, and the positive word-of-mouth effects brought by its box-office success. This will encourage more viewers to seek out additional information to satisfy their curiosity, gradually reducing the barriers to entry and expanding its audience," Shi said.

By Sunday at 9:14 pm, China's 2025 annual box office (including pre-sales) had surpassed 20 billion yuan, setting a new record for the fastest-ever 20 billion yuan milestone in Chinese film history. Ne Zha 2led the pack with an overwhelming 59.4 percent market share.