'Ne Zha 2' continues to storm global box office, hits $2.18 billion

The Chinese hit animation "Ne Zha 2" has grossed over 15.8 billion yuan (about $2.18 billion) as of May 5, according to the ticketing platform Maoyan.

The fifth highest-grossing film in global box office history – just behind "Avatar," "Avengers: Endgame," "Avatar: The Way of Water" and "Titanic" – the Chinese animated blockbuster now trails James Cameron's 1997 epic by just 60 million yuan (around $8.3 million).

A sequel to the 2019 phenomenon "Ne Zha," the film draws from Chinese mythology, with vivid traditional imagery and stylized character design. It continues the journey of the rebellious young hero, intertwining his personal growth with themes of resilience and the spirit of the times.

Since its release, "Ne Zha 2" has continued to shatter records: it's now the all-time highest-grossing animated film globally, the first Asian film to surpass 10 billion yuan (about $1.39 billion) in revenue, and the highest-grossing film in a single market worldwide.

Hot off its domestic success, the film has expanded to markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, France and Sweden – showcasing both the rising strength of China's film industry and the boundless potential of traditional Chinese mythology in a modern context.