English Version Of ‘Ne Zha 2’—Biggest Box Office Hit Of 2025—Will Hit U.S. Theaters In August
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The film has grossed a reported $2.2 billion worldwide, mostly in China, easily making it this year’s biggest box office hit.
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July 9, 2025
03:47 PM
Forbes
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English Version Of ‘Ne Zha 2’—Biggest Box Office Hit Of 2025—Will Hit U
Theaters In AugustByConor Murray, Forbes Staff
Murray is a Forbes news reporter covering entertainment trends
AuthorJul 09, 2025, 03:47pm EDTTopline“Ne Zha 2,” a Chinese animated film that has shattered box office records and is easily this year’s top-grossing film, will get an English-language U
Release starring Michelle Yeoh next month, potentially into the North American market after dominating Chinese theaters. "Ne Zha 2" is this year's biggest box office hit worldwide. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)VCG via Getty ImagesKey FactsAn English-language version of “Ne Zha 2” will open in theaters on Aug. 22, with Oscar-winner Yeoh joining the voice cast as Nezha’s mother
The English-language dub will be distributed by A24 and CMC Pictures, with releases planned for the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
The English version of “Ne Zha 2” will play on IMAX screens, in 3D and in other formats, according to a press release from A24
Yeoh said in a statement “Ne Zha 2” is a “landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” calling it a “joy” to the movie with English audiences
The Chinese language version of “Ne Zha 2” already opened in U
Theaters in January, grossing $20 million. “Ne Zha 2” is based on the Chinese mythological character Nezha, who in the predecessor film is reincarnated as a demon, and in the sequel challenges political authority and fights the Dragon King of Four Seas and other creatures
That’s how much “Ne Zha 2” has grossed at the global box office, multiple outlets reported, though Box Office Mojo lists its global gross at $1. “Ne Zha 2” is far and away the biggest movie of 2025, doubling the gross of its closest competitor, “Lilo & Stitch,” which has grossed $975 million worldwide
What Records Has “ne Zha 2” Broken. “Ne Zha 2” is the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, surpassing “Inside Out 2,” which previously claimed the record last year after grossing $1. 7 billion worldwide
The film’s reported gross of $2. 2 billion would make it the fifth-highest grossing film of all time at the global box office, only behind “Avatar” and its sequel, “The Way of Water,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Titanic. ” “Ne Zha 2” is also the highest-grossing movie not in the English language, and it is the highest-grossing movie in China’s history
How Did “ne Zha 2” Become A Huge Success In China. “Ne Zha 2” became a cultural phenomenon in China, with an estimated 300 million tickets sold within two months of its release, equal to a fifth of the country’s population
The film is a sequel to a successful animated movie, “Ne Zha,” which grossed more than $740 million in 2019. “Ne Zha 2” opened in Chinese theaters during the Lunar New Year period, when workers had time off and could make trips to the theater
Deadline reported supporting the film became a source of national pride in China, and the government helped boost its performance by subsidizing $80 million in tickets
The film’s traditional Chinese roots and its appeal to all generations helped connect with audiences, Chinese film critic Raymond Zhou told the New York Times. “Ne Zha 2” is also a huge success for domestically duced films in China as the country’s interest in American films has waned substantially over the past several years
TangentWhen “Ne Zha 2” opens in late August, it could close out what has been a successful summer for American theaters
The domestic box office has seen multiple back-to-back hits in recent weeks, including “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which opened last weekend to $92 million
Other films that have rejuvenated the box office this summer include “F1,” which opened to $57 million at the end of June, and “Lilo & Stitch,” which led the domestic box office for four straight weekends between May and June
The domestic box office grossed $4. 1 billion in total from Jan. 1 to June 29, according to data d with Forbes by Comscore, a 16% increase from the same dates in 2024
Further ReadingBiggest Culture Winners Of 2025 So Far: Box Office Up 16% As ‘Sunrise On The Reaping’ Tops Fiction Books (Forbes)Got a tip
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