Chinese animation blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has made a significant mark in global markets, exceeding expectations as it makes waves internationally.
The film, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 animated adventure "Ne Zha", draws 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".
According to box office tracker Dengta Data, as of early Sunday, "Ne Zha 2" had surpassed 11.5 billion yuan (about 1.59 billion U.S. dollars) in total global earnings, including presales.
The film debuted in North America on Friday, with its pre-sale numbers quickly surpassing the total earnings of the first "Ne Zha" film in the region.
As of now, the film has been screened in 770 theaters across North America, setting a new record for the number of overseas screenings by a Chinese distributor in nearly 20 years.
The U.S. release covers over 400 cities in 48 states, while in Canada, it is showing in 42 cities across 10 provinces.
Since its premiere in Oceanian countries including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the film has swiftly become the highest-grossing Chinese film in the region in nearly two decades. "I feel like this is something that for all ages you can learn something from and maybe get insight into a culture that you otherwise might have been too afraid to know more about. Their moments in the animation that are really striking visually and the animation you can tell the technique behind it all is very beautiful. Well done. Every cinema I've seen has been packed, so there's obviously a hunger for films like this and films to learn more about other cultures," said an American audience member.
"We watched 'Ne Zha' together, so when 'Ne Zha 2' came out, I didn't hesitate to bring him along," said a moviegoer in Canada.
"Ne Zha 2" wins global audiences, breaks box office records
"Ne Zha 2" wins global audiences, breaks box office records
