The Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has amassed a total box office of 12.052 billion yuan (around $1.663 billion) on February 17. This achievement surpasses the $1.662 billion record set by “The Lion King” (2019), securing “Ne Zha 2” a place among the top 10 highest-grossing films worldwide.
Following its official premiere in North America on February 14, “Ne Zha 2” broke into the top five of the North American weekend box office chart.
The vast majority of viewers have enjoyed Ne Zha 2; it currently holds a 99 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85 per cent rating on the equivalent Chinese website, Douban.
Directed by Jiaozi, the film and its predecessor are based on the classic novel Investiture of the Gods. Nezha is born as the reincarnation of a demon with supernatural powers, but destined to live only three years. He fights back against his fate and saves his village. In the sequel, Nezha revisits a similar theme. He challenges the political order and authority governing gods and demons, fighting the Dragon King of the Four Seas and other creatures.
