Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" officially hit theaters in Canada's City of Vancouver on Friday, and emotions ran high as the audience experienced laughter, tears, and a storyline that resonated deeply with everyone in the room.
The film, which was released during the Chinese New Year, has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross one billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.
A follow-up to animated sensation "Ne Zha," which grossed 5 billion yuan and topped the Chinese box office chart in 2019, the sequel has captivated audiences with not only its breathtaking visuals, but also its rich storytelling and deep cultural resonance.
"I cried when Ne Zha's mom passed away, it was really sad but it was still a very exciting movie," said Amelia, moviegoer.
"The part that touched me the most was when the mom died, made me cry because the mom was thrown into an oven, also because the mom said that she loved him no matter what," said William, a moviegoer.
The film wasn't just for kids -- adults attended with high expectations and were not disappointed.
"It's actually really, really good, I love the animations, like really, really good for nowadays. I'm surprised and I'm impressed," said a moviegoer.
"I am just in a lotus, pink traditional attire today to kind of like, as well as the color of my accessories are also fitting to that of the lotus color. So it's a way to kind of embody the theme of Ne Zha to myself on this special day. And then today is a working day, it's Friday. I actually moved my plan. So I'm able to kind of fit everything according to my schedule," said another moviegoer.
With such enthusiasm from the audience, local theaters are scheduling multiple showtimes to meet the high demand.
Chinese animated blockbuster hits Vancouver screens
Chinese animated blockbuster hits Vancouver screens
