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With today’s running business included, Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has topped RMB 7B ($960.5M) in China, far and away setting a new record for the biggest gross ever by a film in a single market worldwide. In reaching the milestone, this animated sequel overtakes 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens which was long the title holder for highest gross in a single market, that being $936.7M from North America.
Ne Zha 2 has been on a tear since it released during the Lunar New Year corridor in China (January 28-February 4). It set the single-film box office record for the holiday in the market’s history, and this past Thursday surpassed The Battle at Lake Changjin to become China’s biggest film ever.
The next record to fall will be when Ne Zha 2 soon hits $1B in China, thereby becoming the only film ever to reach that mark in a single market. Maoyan has been upping its predictions throughout the week, now forecasting a staggering RMB 10.8B ($1.48B) China finish. As of 5pm local time today, which is a working day in the market, it’s at RMB 7.06B/$968.8M.
Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiaozi), Ne Zha 2, which is due for release in North America via CMC on Feb 14, is loosely based on a classic Chinese myth and is set after the events of the previous 2019 film. It centers on the titular boy with magical powers and his friend Aobing as their souls are saved but their physical forms face dissolution. Aided by the immortal Taiyi Zhenren to reconstruct their bodies, the heroes face numerous challenges (including a bevy of sea monsters) as they attempt to overcome a crisis that threatens the existence of humankind.
While China saw a downturn in 2024 as box office slipped 25% from the previous year, the start to 2025 is an encouraging sign with the Spring Festival logging a new overall record for box office during the annual holiday period. Total Mainland grosses reached RMB 9.51B ($1.3B) from January 28-February 4, outstripping the previous record of RMB 8.02B.
A promotional scheme launched this past December by the China Film Administration to offer subsidies to the moviegoing public through February, alongside other campaigns at regional levels, helped spur traffic, but momentum hasn’t flagged.
The jury is still out on what this means for Hollywood going forward as Chinese tastes have turned more towards local fare. There is some cautious optimism that the return of audiences to cinemas could spill over to studio movies as well. As we’ve previously noted, the situation will become clearer when we see the performance of key titles in the latter half of 2025, particularly Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire & Ash.
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