Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" is expected to surpass 100 million U.S. dollars in overseas box office, setting a new high for Chinese films going abroad in the past 20 years, chairman of its major producer Enlight Media said on Sunday during the ongoing 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).
"Ne Zha 2," released in January this year, has become a global success, captivating audiences worldwide with its unique take on Chinese mythology and visually stunning animation. It is a sequel to the 2019 animated hit "Ne Zha."
Wang Changtian, chairman of Beijing Enlight Media - also the film's major investor, said, "We now expect the final overseas box office to exceed 100 million U.S. dollars, making it the highest in the past 20 years. This means that after two decades, we have a new opportunity to re-enter the international market with purely domestic Chinese films."
Since its release on January 29, 2025, "Ne Zha 2" has grossed over 15.8 billion yuan (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars).
The Chinese version with English subtitles has been distributed in regions such as Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. At the same time, the English dubbed version will also see a secondary overseas release.
In merchandise sales, the "Ne Zha" series has generated hundreds of billions of yuan so far, providing significant benefits across development, production, and sales.
Wang predicted that merchandise sales are highly likely to achieve over 100 billion yuan.
"Ne Zha 2" sets new high for overseas box office of Chinese films in 20 years
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
