Editorial | Why Ne Zha 2 struck gold at the box office
Innovative filmmaking combined with a riveting story based on a Chinese myth has wooed audiences on the mainland – and perhaps the world will follow
If there is any winning formula for box office success, the marriage of tradition with new technology seems to be one of them. A week after its release during the Lunar New Year, the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has become the highest-grossing film in China’s history.
Hopes are high that it may take the world by storm with its screening overseas.
The legend of the dragon-slaying warrior god has long been a source of inspiration in the Chinese world of pop culture and entertainment. The mythical hero looms even bigger on the silver screen when the ancient folklore tales are retold using state-of-the-art digital technology.
Officially entitled Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea, the animation has sophisticated visuals, deep cultural resonance and a captivating plot, recounting how a boy born with a demonic destiny unites the suppressed spirits in the sea to fight the deity manipulating cosmic order.
The film has already surpassed 11 billion yuan (HK$11.8 billion) in box office revenues, overtaking the previous record set in 2021 by The Battle at Lake Changjin, a patriotic account of the Chinese stand-off against the United States during the Korean war.
It also is the highest-grossing film, outperforming top Disney cartoons and Japanese animations in the mainland Chinese market.