Ne Zha 2
Xianxia Review: Ne Zha 2 ~ My Latest Review for Immortal Studios
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Apr 20, 2025 12:21am PT ‘Ne Zha 2’ English Dub Sets Sights on Global Market: ‘The Returns Could Be Enormous’
By Naman Ramachandran
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Everett Collection
Chinese animation blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” continues to shatter records as distributors prepare an English-dubbed version with “well-known” voice talent, setting the stage for a broader international push following its unprecedented local success. The film has already grossed $2.11 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the fifth highest-grossing film ever.
At the Beijing International Film Festival‘s industry forum titled “How High is the Ceiling for China’s Film Market?”, Catherine Ying, president of distributor CMC Pictures, revealed plans for the English-dubbed version while discussing the film’s international strategy. “People are excited and happy to see ‘Ne Zha 2,'” Ying said.
CMC Pictures has already secured distribution on 1,000 screens in North America and 162 in Australia for the film. For the upcoming English dub, Ying noted that the marketing approach will shift significantly with “targeted TV advertising and social media including YouTube and TikTok,” along with a “bigger marketing budget” to reach non-Chinese audiences. Popular on Variety
Chinese films are also making unprecedented inroads in European markets. Cedric Behrel, managing director of distributor Trinity CineAsia, highlighted the remarkable performance of “Ne Zha 2.”
“The release of “Ne Zha 2″ in Europe has been extraordinary. We only started about a month ago, and it’s already become the highest grossing Chinese film in Europe in 20 years,” Behrel said. He described booking the film at London’s iconic Odeon Leicester Square cinema, “where really only major U.S. studios are looking usually at James Bond and ‘Wicked,'” as an “inspiring moment” for Chinese cinema overseas.
The film’s success has been bolstered by premium format showings, with Behrel noting that premium formats account for remarkably high percentages of ticket sales – 33% in the U.K. and 24% in Germany.
Director Huang Jianxin (“1921”) touched on technological advancements, particularly “using AI to enhance experience” for audiences “pressed for time.” However, “Infernal Affairs” trilogy director Andrew Lau took a more traditional stance, insisting “story, script is the key.” He added that “AI is cold – doesn’t have any warmth. Communication is the key. AI is just a tool.”
Daniel Manwaring, CEO of Imax China, stated: “There is a market. All we need is good movies.” He stressed the importance of “the best possible environment” to attract audiences, noting that five Chinese films will be shot in Imax this year.
Delivering one of the Beijing forum keynotes, Fu Ruoqing, chair of China Film Group, emphasized China’s ambition to “build itself into a film power according to the 40th 5-year plan” by 2035. He highlighted the need for diversification in the Chinese film industry, which “should not be supplied by just a few blockbusters.” He added that after the Lunar New Year box office high, led by “Ne Zha 2,” the “market has once again become colder.” “We need a diversified slate to make the ecosystem sustainable,” he said.
As Chinese films continue gaining traction internationally, industry leaders remain optimistic about the future global potential of titles like “Ne Zha 2,” with Ying concluding, “The returns could be enormous.”
I wrote a piece on Ne Zha for Immortal when KFM was down. I’ll post that here next.
Read Xianxia Review: Ne Zha 2, a review I did for Immortal Studios
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I neglected to split Ne Zha 2 from this Nezha thread. Doing that now.
A rare collaboration between the indie distributor and China’s state-backed distributor CMC Pictures brings the top-grossing animation ever to North American screens in August.
By Patrick Brzeski
July 9, 2025 5:00am [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Still-2.png?w=1296&h=730&crop=1”}[/IMG2] ‘Ne Zha 2’ Courtesy of A24
A24 and CMC Pictures are joining forces to bring an English-language version of Ne Zha 2, the runaway animated box office sensation from China, to theaters across North America this summer.
The English version will feature Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh in a lead voice role. The film will open in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 22, screening in Imax, 3D, and other premium large formats.
Ne Zha 2 became the world’s top-grossing animated film of all time following its release earlier this year during China’s Lunar New Year holiday. It has earned a massive $2.2 billion, surpassing Pixar’s Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion) at the global office. It is also the fifth highest-grossing film worldwide overall, with nearly all of its revenue coming from the Chinese mainland.
Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiaozi), the film is the long-awaited sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha, a modern reimagining of the mythological Chinese folk hero that became a cultural phenomenon and a milestone for Chinese animation. Ne Zha 2 builds on that legacy with a continuation of the saga, blending high-concept storytelling with even more impressive visual spectacle.
“I’m honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”
The franchise’s story follows the rebellious young demigod Ne Zha — born to mortal parents and feared by the heavens — as he wrestles with immense powers and a destiny to face an ancient force bent on humanity’s destruction.
Already a global fan favorite in its original Chinese-language release, Ne Zha 2 ranks as the highest-rated animated film of the year on Rotten Tomatoes and one of 2025’s top-rated titles on Letterboxd.
The A24-CMC partnership will pose a litmus test of the U.S. market’s appetite for Chinese storytelling, as well as the strategic potential of crossover animation when backed by a potent mix of talent and scale.
I was planning to go to the screener of the English language version last night but I just came out of working Outside Lands, a 3-day music festival in Golden Gate Park, and I gassed out.
Ne Zha 2: The Real Lore Behind the Biggest Movie of 2025 (and Why You Haven’t Heard of It) ~ My Latest Review for Den of Geek
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