Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" sparks ticket frenzy in North America

China

Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" sparks ticket frenzy in North America

2025-02-10 10:48 Last Updated At：11:07

Pre-sales for the Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" -- now the highest-grossing film of all time in China -- are skyrocketing in North America, with theater occupancy exceeding 90 percent and many popular showtimes already sold out.

Formally known as "Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea", the film is the sequel to the 2019 animated blockbuster "Ne Zha", drawing inspiration from the tale of a mythological figure of the same name from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel "Fengshen Yanyi", or "The Investiture of the Gods".

The film will kick off special screenings in North America on Wednesday, ahead of its official release on Friday.

Additional showtimes in major cities like New York and Los Angeles will be available for purchase starting Monday via local cinema websites.

Besides, "Ne Zha 2" held its North American premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on Saturday, drawing hundreds of fans and industry professionals from both China and the United States.

The film has already shattered numerous records.

According to Chinese ticketing platform Beacon, the film grossed over 8.085 billion yuan (about over 1.11 billion U.S. dollars) as of 21:00 Beijing Time on Sunday, surpassing the box office earnings of "The Dark Knight Rises" and becoming the first Asian film to enter the Top 35 of the global box office chart.

Having surpassed the box office of "Despicable Me 3", an American comedy 3D animation released in 2017, the film is now the first non-Hollywood film to enter the Top 10 of the global animation box office list.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.