Chinese blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" becomes third-highest grossing animated film of all time

Chinese blockbuster hit "Ne Zha 2" continued to break box office records on Thursday and has now become the third-highest grossing animated film of all time.

As of Thursday afternoon, the film's overall box office takings has now exceeded 1.36 billion U.S. dollars, taking it above the Super Mario Bros. Movie to rank among the top three most lucrative animated movies ever made.

The film is already the most commercially successful non-Hollywood animation in history and now sits behind only the 'Frozen' and 'Inside Out' movie sequels in the table of highest-earning animated movies.

The film has proven a huge hit among moviegoers of all ages since its release late last month ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. According to the latest data on Thursday afternoon, more than 200 million people have watched it in cinemas across China, making it the first Chinese film to achieve such viewing figures.

As the long-awaited sequel to the 2019 animated adventure, "Ne Zha 2" had already gained considerable hype online, with numerous netizens on Chinese social media platforms later expressing their eagerness to return and watch the movie multiple times, such was their enjoyment of the film.

Due to the critical and commercial success of "Ne Zha 2", one of its producers -- Beijing Enlight Media - has seen a nearly 200-percent surge in its share price since the movie first hit screens on Jan 29.

After a record-breaking domestic performance, the "Ne Zha 2" film phenomenon is now looking to make its mark on the international markets as it begins to be screened in theaters around the world. The film is set to be released in the U.S. on Friday after already debuting in several countries and regions over the past week, and its global release is expected to significantly increase its overall earnings.

Drawing inspiration from a mythological tale dating back to China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) period, the movie showcases cutting-edge special effects, demonstrating the creativity of the Chinese movie industry. By combining various traditional Chinese cultural elements into the plot, imagery, and characters, the movie also highlights the unique charm of Chinese culture.

Chinese blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" becomes third-highest grossing animated film of all time

Chinese blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" becomes third-highest grossing animated film of all time

The Republic of Korea (ROK) and China should cherish the historical experience of jointly resisting aggression and continue to work together for a prosperous future, said ROK President Lee Jae Myung.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office last year.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul on Wednesday, Lee said that humanity must learn from the past to prevent the tragedy of war from repeating itself.

"While pursuing their own national interests to the fullest extent, countries must not harm the national interests of others, but should coexist peacefully. The act of invading other countries and massacring their people for one's own benefit must never be repeated. History of humanity often repeats itself, therefore we must learn from the past. In this regard, I believe the historical experience of ROK and China in resisting aggression and fighting together is invaluable. Of course, while historical experience is important, we cannot remain stuck in the past. For a better future for the people of both countries, we need to continuously explore possibilities for working together towards the future," said the president.

ROK president calls for learning lesson from anti-aggression history