China's 2025 box office revenue has surpassed 10 billion yuan (over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars), overtaking North America, driven by the animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," now the highest-grossing film in a single market worldwide.
"Ne Zha 2," the animated feature that has swept Chinese cinemas, has surpassed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" to become the highest-grossing film in a single market globally.
According to ticketing platform Beacon, the film had already grossed over 6.79 billion yuan (about 930 million U.S. dollars) on the Chinese mainland by 21:11 Friday, overtaking the North American box office for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Director Yu Yang was driven to push the boundaries of creative expression, striving to craft innovative and visually stunning experiences that leave a lasting impact on audiences.
"We have to create something the audience has never seen before, something that delivers a powerful visual impact or introduces a fresh artistic expression. It needs to provide a strong aesthetic experience for the audience. That's what we believe is worth creating," he said.
With over 1,900 special effects shots, "Ne Zha 2" blends modern animation techniques with traditional Chinese aesthetics, including ink-wash landscapes and paper-cut silhouettes.
The film's action sequences evoke classical Chinese art forms, while the characters' movements mirror the fluidity of calligraphy. This fusion of tradition and innovation has set a new benchmark for Chinese animation, positioning it as a global cultural force.
"Part of it has to do with the rapid improvement in Chinese films, in the production values of those films, and part of it has to do with telling stories that Chinese want to see, stories about China, stories about Chinese people living their lives," said Professor Clayton Dube, director of the U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California.
Ne Zha 2 is part of a wave of Chinese animated films, including "White Snake: Afloat" and "Chang An," that are redefining the industry.
The film has already expanded its reach with releases in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and across Asia, with sold-out screenings in New York reflecting its growing international appeal.
As China continues to push the boundaries of animation and film production, "Ne Zha 2" stands as a landmark achievement, highlighting the country's ascent as a major player in the global entertainment industry.
China's box office surpasses North America, led by record-breaking "Ne Zha 2"
