Photo: Maoyan

Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has surpassed Disney's Star Wars: The Force Awakens to secure the fifth spot on the all-time global box office charts on Saturday after crossing 15.1 billion yuan ($2.09 billion) in total earnings, according to data from ticketing platform Maoyan.

"This record is not only a milestone in breaking Hollywood's monopoly in the top film market, but also a step forward in promoting the export of China's cultural soft power," said Zhang Peng, a film researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, explaining the significance of the film's entry into the global top 5 box office with the Global Times.

This latest achievement adds to the film's series of remarkable records, which includes being the highest-grossing animated film of all time globally.

Directed by Yang Yu, also known as Jiao Zi, the sequel to the 2019 film Ne Zha 1 - which grossed 5 billion yuan and topped the Chinese box office that year - continues the story. Over 98 percent of its revenue has come from the Chinese mainland, reported the Xinhua News Agency.

The film's roots run deep in Chinese mythology, continuing the story of the boy god Nezha as he and his ally Aobing struggle to rebuild their physical forms. With the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, they navigate a journey of self-discovery, fate, and defiance.

"This surge in visual effects is one of the standout features of the sequel, elevating the film's overall production quality and setting a new benchmark for animated films in China," noted Zhang.

In comparison to Ne Zha 1, which featured 1,864 shots and 1,400 special effects shots, the sequel Ne Zha 2 boasts a significant increase in scale. The second film includes 2,427 shots with 1,948 of them dedicated to special effects, marking a notable leap in visual complexity. 

"The film tells a Chinese story, with the special effects team entirely from China, making it a fully domestic product. Given its good performance in global markets, it is expected to strengthen Chinese narratives, promote Chinese culture globally, and enhance international communication," Sun Jiashan, an associate research fellow at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times.

According to Sun, the film's rich mythology, stunning visual effects, and universal themes such as family bonds have struck a chord with global audiences. 

Since its international rollout began on February 13 in Australia and New Zealand, this film has steadily expanded its global footprint. 

It opened in North America the following day, shattering the region's 20-year-old opening weekend record for a Chinese-language film, according to Xinhua.

After debuting in Singapore on March 6, the film was launched in the Philippines on March 12, followed by Thailand and Malaysia on March 13, with further Southeast Asian rollouts planned in the coming weeks. 

It also premiered in Japan on Friday, attracting a large crowd of moviegoers, said Xinhua. The film was screened in 32 theaters in more than 20 cities in the country on the day with Chinese and English subtitles. 

Its European expansion is also underway. 

On Friday, the film held preview screenings in Britain and Ireland ahead of its official March 21 release in both countries, with further European rollouts to follow.

Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, which holds theatrical distribution rights for the Chinese film Ne Zha 2 across 37 territories, such as the UK, France and Spain, described the film's European launch as "unprecedented in scope."

Notably, the US media outlet Deadline described the performance of Ne Zha 2 as "a rare example of a non-US film," citing one of its senior analysts and adding that this "rare" hurricane is still ongoing.

US critics have largely celebrated Ne Zha 2 for its quality as a sequel after it was aired on February 14. For instance, New York-based film critic Simon Abrams' review highlights it as a "rare sequel that amplifies both its action and drama without sacrificing much of what already worked in the last movie."

Graphics: Tang Tengfei/GT

Graphics: Tang Tengfei/GT

Graphics: Tang Tengfei/GT