mk East China's Jiangxi Province, on February 17, 2025. " src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-21/bce7214c-e080-414d-b105-b59a64ee12a7.jpeg" />

Visitors look at hand-painted cartoon characters like Ne Zha in the Honggutan district of Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi Province, on February 17, 2025.

Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2officially released in 33 cinemas in Singapore on Thursday, leading in the number of screenings among all films currently showing in the country, China Central Television reported, citing local film distributor Encore Films.

Zhang Binlin, a master's student at the National University of Singapore, told the Global Times on Thursday that she has been a fan of Ne Zha since 2019. 

Since Ne Zha 2was released during the Spring Festival in the Chinese mainland and received widespread praise, she had been closely following its box-office performance while trying to avoid spoilers. Eagerly awaiting its Singapore release, she attended the country's first IMAX 2D screening on Thursday at the Shaw Theatres Lido, paying a total of S$25 ($18.77), which included a S$22 ticket and a S$3 booking fee.

"The visuals were breathtaking. The film blends traditional cultural elements with intricate details, making its $2 billion plus box office well deserved," she said. 

Zhang was particularly moved by themes of "family and resilience against fate."

The in-theater atmosphere was quite good, Zhang noted, with audiences staying silent throughout the film and watching the post-credits scenes before leaving.

Jenny, who works in the cosmetics industry in Singapore, watched the first IMAX screening at 8:50 am at the Shaw Theatres Jewel with her parents. 

She described the experience as "stunning." 

She highlighted the film's "intense" action scenes and "emotional" moments, noting that the audience was so immersed by the touching scenes that even quiet sobs could be heard. "Even though it was the first IMAX screening on a weekday, the auditorium was still about 40 percent full," she told the Global Times.

Encore Films executive producer Joyce Lee Huei Hsien told China Central Television that in her 22 years in film distribution, she had never seen a release generate such enthusiasm, sparking widespread discussion both online and offline. She attributed the film's success to its "innovation and relatability.

On Sunday, a premiere ceremony was held in Singapore, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. According to Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao, all tickets for the premiere sold out within 30 minutes of release. Due to the high demand, the film's distributor arranged additional screenings to accommodate more fans.

Jonathan Teo, a Malaysian native based in Singapore who has watched the premiere, told the Global Times that the S$45 premiere ticket price included several souvenirs, such as two posters, a limited-edition movie ticket, and souvenir cards, making it "highly valuable" for collectors. "I think the ticket price was totally worth it," he said.  

"The visuals and audio, and the overall presentation completely exceeded my expectations," Teo said, adding that the film moved him to tears. He has bought an IMAX ticket for Saturday and plans to watch it multiple times. "I'm really looking forward to the third installment," he said.

The film is also preparing for a broader Southeast Asian rollout. It will premiere in the Philippines on March 12, followed by Malaysia and Thailand on March 13, according to China Central Television. To better cater to local audiences, the film will include Malay and Thai subtitles in its respective markets.

According to China Central Television, in Thailand, the distributor has produced Thai-language posters and added Thai annotations to the international trailer, making the film more accessible to local viewers.

Sun Jiashan, an associate research fellow at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times that he believes Ne Zha 2has strong potential in Southeast Asia, given the region's long-standing cultural ties with China. 

"Chinese pop culture, including films, TV dramas, and variety shows, has traditionally performed well in Southeast Asia," Sun said. 

"As a high-quality animated film suitable for all age groups, Ne Zha 2draws inspiration from traditional Chinese mythology and has already achieved significant success both domestically and internationally. Given its positive reception in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, it is expected to maintain its strong performance in Southeast Asian markets," according to Sun.