As the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" gains unprecedented popularity across the country, its merchandise, from popcorn buckets to plush toys to figure dolls, caused a shopping frenzy, with many popular items selling out as soon as they hit the shelves.
The film, which was released during the Spring Festival holiday, has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.
As the box office for "Ne Zha 2" continues to climb, many businesses have seized the opportunity to capitalize on the film's popularity through its merchandise.
At a cinema in Shanghai, popcorn tubs, beverages, and other products featuring characters from the animated movie are in high demand, with many of them sold out within days of their release, according to a cinema staff member.
"We have launched several products, such as cups featuring characters Ne Zha, Ao Bing, and Taiyi Zhenren. These products have all sold out and are in short supply," said Zhang Guoqiang, deputy manager of the cinema. At a Beijing store of Pop Mart, a Chinese toy brand known for its blind boxes, resin figure dolls based on the film characters were prominently displayed. Because of their high popularity, these products are now flying off the shelves, and the next batch won't be available until July.
Jiang Chuan, leader of the figure doll design project, said that product development began long before the film's release, and the products were made with advanced technology and best production lines.
"We started working with the movie's creative team over a year in advance, so we can launch the final products at the same time the film was released," said Jiang.
To meet the surging demand, a figure doll factory in south China's Guangdong Province is now operating at full capacity to produce "Ne Zha 2" merchandise. Thanks to newly upgraded production lines, the factory is able to produce dolls with better texture and details.
"Previously, our dolls were spray painted just once, but this time, they were painted for multiple times. The dolls are carefully inspected under a magnifying glass to ensure there are no flaws, and there is a significant improvement in detail and smoothness of dolls," said Huang Wanmao, head of the factory.
Currently, the development of new merchandise for "Ne Zha 2" is in full swing, with more co-branded products set to hit the market soon.
Chinese blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" sparks shopping frenzy for movie merchandise
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
