Ne Zha 2x1x – Ne Zha 2x1x, directed by Jiaozi, is a 2025 Chinese animated fantasy-action adventure film. It was made on an estimated budget of US$80 million.
Early Performance & China Box Office
- The film premiered in China on 29 January 2025, coinciding with the Chinese New Year holiday period.
- Within just three days of release, it had already grossed about 1.1 billion yuan (roughly US$137 million) in China.
- It broke several speed records:
• Exceeded 2 billion yuan by day 4. (Wikipedia)
• Reached 3 then 4 billion yuan in successive days.
• Crossed 5 billion yuan (≈ US$684 million) in just eight days, beating earlier record-holders. - Very quickly, it became not only the highest-grossing animated film in China but also the highest-grossing film ever in a single market (China), surpassing The Force Awakens from the Star Wars franchise.
Worldwide Collection & Records
- Globally, Ne Zha 2x1x has earned over US$2.1 to US$2.2 billion in box office gross. (The Times of India)
- It holds several major records:
International Markets & Additional Notes
- Outside China, Ne Zha 2x1x earned a smaller portion of its income, but still significant. For example, its “Domestic (North America)” box office from one source is about US$23.3 million, compared to nearly US$1.879 billion from international markets, with China being the major contributor. (Box Office Mojo)
- The film was re-released in North America in August 2025 (English dub version). On its re-release opening weekend in North America, it collected approximately US$1.5 million from ~2,228 theaters. (Koimoi)
What Makes This Success Significant
- Ne Zha 2x1x demonstrates how animated films originating outside of Hollywood can scale to massive global success, particularly when the domestic market is huge (in this case, China).
- Its performance underscored the growing global appeal of well-made animation and mythology-based storytelling.
- The film’s speed in breaking box office records (fastest to certain revenue thresholds in China) shows strong audience demand, especially during peak cinema-going seasons (like the Chinese New Year).
Challenges & Considerations
- While the revenue figures are very impressive, much of the earnings came from the Chinese market. International reach was more modest in comparison. This shows that localization, distribution, and promotion outside China are still areas where similar films could improve.
- Competition from Hollywood productions, differing taste in animation styles, cultural barriers, and language dubbing/subtitling are typical hurdles for films from non-English speaking regions.
Conclusion
Ne Zha 2x1x is not just a box office blockbuster it is a milestone. It has reset multiple benchmarks: becoming the first animated film to cross US$2 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing animated film ever, and setting new national records in China. For filmmakers and studios outside of the traditional Hollywood system, Ne Zha 2x1x offers a powerful example of what is possible with strong storytelling, high production values, and smart release timing.
