Why Ne Zha 2 wasn’t a global smash

[Nan Yang]

Spoke too soon. It's not over yet.

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The Highest-Grossing Movie in the World Right Now Is About to Get Even Bigger With an All-Star English Dub Release​

One of the most surprising blockbusters of the year is getting an all-star English dub in an attempt to take over the world all over again. Ne Zha 2 smashed records when it became the biggest animated movie of all-time thanks to its $2.11 billion global box office, and found itself among James Cameron’s Avatar movies and MCU Avengers films as the fifth-highest grossing movie ever.

Ne Zha 2 obviously made most of its money at the China box office, but you can’t make a movie that big without the rest of the world wanting to see what the fuss is about. For that reason, the movie, with its original language and subtitles, managed to pull in reasonable box office receipts. Now the new English dub has already started securing screens in the U.S. and Australia, and is prepared to put in the marketing to make the film a success all over again.

Cedric Behrel, managing director of distributor Trinity CineAsia, said of the movie’s previous performance in non-Chinese markets:

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There is no word yet on who will be enlisted to provide the English dub voices for the movie, but with “enormous returns” on the cards, it is likely that the producers will be looking at some big names to capture the attention of those who may have let the movie pass them by.

'Ne Zha 2’s Incredible Box Office Success​

CMC Pictures

While box office charts have been dominated by superhero movies and big American blockbusters, Ne Zha 2 came from nowhere to kick 2024’s Inside Out 2 into touch by replacing it as the highest-grossing animated movie ever, and then it just kept going.

Ne Zha 2 was written and directed by Yu Yang, and is a follow-up to the 2019 film Ne Zha, which was loosely based on Xu Zhonglin's novel Investiture of the Gods. From its reasonable 600 million yuan ($80 million) budget, the film blew away the $742 million box office of the first movie, which was released in 2019, and hit that sweet spot where nothing can stop the runaway train.

There is no single reason as to why the film became the global phenomenon it has. While animated fantasy movies have always been popular, the 144-minute runtime could have been seen as too long for some youngsters to sit through, but, on this occasion, that has made no difference at all. Now, with the language barrier about to be broken – and while many believe that English dubs are the devil, in an animated movie that changes things a little – there is no way of telling just how high Ne Zha 2 can soar as it attempts to challenge the Western world’s biggest blockbusters.

Source: Variety

The Highest-Grossing Movie in the World Right Now Is About to Get Even Bigger With an All-Star English Dub Release

Even the Avengers might not be able to win this battle.

movieweb.com

A24 to Release Chinese Animated Blockbuster ‘Ne Zha 2’ in U.S. Theaters (With Michelle Yeoh Leading English Voice Cast)​

A rare collaboration between the indie distributor and China's state-backed distributor CMC Pictures brings the top-grossing animation ever to North American screens in August.

By Patrick Brzeski
July 9, 2025 5:00am

'Ne Zha 2' Courtesy of A24
A24 and CMC Pictures are joining forces to bring an English-language version of Ne Zha 2, the runaway animated box office sensation from China, to theaters across North America this summer.

The English version will feature Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh in a lead voice role. The film will open in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 22, screening in Imax, 3D, and other premium large formats.

Ne Zha 2 became the world’s top-grossing animated film of all time following its release earlier this year during China’s Lunar New Year holiday. It has earned a massive $2.2 billion, surpassing Pixar’s Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion) at the global office. It is also the fifth highest-grossing film worldwide overall, with nearly all of its revenue coming from the Chinese mainland.

Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiaozi), the film is the long-awaited sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha, a modern reimagining of the mythological Chinese folk hero that became a cultural phenomenon and a milestone for Chinese animation. Ne Zha 2 builds on that legacy with a continuation of the saga, blending high-concept storytelling with even more impressive visual spectacle.

“I’m honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”

The franchise’s story follows the rebellious young demigod Ne Zha — born to mortal parents and feared by the heavens — as he wrestles with immense powers and a destiny to face an ancient force bent on humanity’s destruction.

Already a global fan favorite in its original Chinese-language release, Ne Zha 2 ranks as the highest-rated animated film of the year on Rotten Tomatoes and one of 2025’s top-rated titles on Letterboxd.

The A24-CMC partnership will pose a litmus test of the U.S. market’s appetite for Chinese storytelling, as well as the strategic potential of crossover animation when backed by a potent mix of talent and scale.

 

[Nan Yang]

Ne Zha 2 Trailer

 

[Nan Yang]

‘Ne Zha 2’ Trailer: The Chinese Animated Phenomenon Returns to Theaters with A24 English Dub​

The highest-grossing animated movie ever made, "Ne Zha 2" follows the adventures of a demon on a quest to prove his greatness and save his family.
By Wilson Chapman

July 22, 2025 8:00 am

"Ne Zha 2"
Courtesy Everett Collection

Earlier this month, A24 announced that they had acquired the rights to rerelease “Ne Zha 2,” the Chinese animated film that became the highest-grossing animated movie ever made when it originally released in theaters this January. Now, the first trailer for the company’s English dub version of the film has been released, showcasing the action epic’s vibrant, beautifully animated fantasy world.

The sequel to 2019’s “Ne Zha,” “Ne Zha 2” is based upon the eponymous deity from Buddist, Taoist, and Chinese folk religion tradition. Inspired by the 16th century novel “Investiture of the Gods,” the two movies focus on the young Ne Zha, a boy born as the reincarnation of an ancient demon orb. Shunned and feared by the people of his hometown, the boy attempts to subvert a prophecy foretelling his descent into evil and prove himself a hero. The second movie follows Ne Zha, reborn after losing his physical body after the events of the first film, as he goes on a quest to complete three trials needed to become an immortal, and save his town and family in the process.

Along with the trailer, A24 also announced several members of the voice cast, joining the initially announced Michelle Yeoh, who plays Ne Zha’s mother Lady Yin. Vincent Rodriguez III, Aleks Le, Damien Haas, and Crystal Lee also star in the English dub.

Written and directed by Yang Yu (also credited as Jiaozi), the first “Ne Zha” was extremely successful upon release, grossing over $700 million. The sequel, however, proved a genuine phenomenon, making $2.2 billion worldwide. The massive figure makes the film by far the highest-grossing movie of 2025, the highest-grossing animated and non-English film of all time, and the fifth highest-grossing movie ever made. Almost none of that revenue came from the United States, as the film was initially released in the U.S. by CMC Pictures via a limited run on February 14.

The English version of “Ne Zha 2” will premiere on August 22, in IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats. The film will screen in the U.S., Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand theaters. Watch the trailer below.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

‘Ne Zha 2’ Trailer: The Chinese Animated Phenomenon Returns to Theaters with A24 English Dub​