Box office new No. 5: 'Ne Zha 2' overtakes 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2' has surpassed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" with a global box office of over 15.02 billion yuan (about $2.07 billion), becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time.

Forty-six days after its release in China, the film continues to break records and climb charts. "Ne Zha 2" holds the title of China's highest-grossing film ever, surpassing "Wolf Warrior 2" and "The Battle at Lake Changjin," while also claiming the crown of the world's highest-grossing animated film (overtaking the $1.7 billion of "Inside Out 2").

The "Ne Zha 2" juggernaut has expanded to Asian markets including Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, offering screenings in English subtitles and local languages. In Malaysia, audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive.

On March 14, 2025, "Ne Zha 2" premiered in London, UK, beginning its "European Tour." Next, the film is set to debut in European countries such as France and Germany in late March, leaving room for further box office growth.

With only "Titanic," "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Avengers: Endgame" and "Avatar" ahead of it, it remains to be seen how high "Ne Zha 2" will climb in global all-time rankings.

Related: Technology empowers Ne Zha, enabling Chinese culture to resonate with the world