The Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 premiered in Hong Kong on February 22, drawing a strong box office response with many cinema screenings nearly selling out on the day. According to Maoyan, China’s official box office platform, Ne Zha 2—hailed as “The Light of Chinese Animation”—surpassed Inside Out 2′s $1.699 billion in box office revenue within just 22 days, making it the global box office leader for animated films.
Continuing the story from Ne Zha: The Devil Child, Ne Zha 2 follows the titular character’s transformation from a “devilish child” to a hero. The film draws on the traditional Chinese myth of Ne Zha, blending modern values with stunning visual effects to craft a unique and captivating fantasy world. Ne Zha’s rebellious battle against fate, his deep emotional bonds with his parents and mentors, and the grand-scale fight scenes all left a lasting impression on viewers.
“I had already seen clips of the film’s animation online, and they were truly stunning. That’s what made me decide to watch it in the theatre,” said Mike Lam, a local designer in Hong Kong. “Although I wasn’t familiar with Ne Zha’s story before, I’ve started looking up the legend now.”
As a milestone in Chinese animation, Ne Zha 2 initially sparked a viewing frenzy across mainland China and, thanks to its remarkable box office performance and growing reputation, has begun to capture global attention. With high production values, vibrant storytelling, and a fresh interpretation of Chinese traditional culture, it swiftly became the highest-grossing animated film globally, surpassing Hollywood hits like Frozen 2 and The Lion King.
On the day of the premiere, after visiting many cinemas, it was obvious that the majority of the audience for Ne Zha 2 were mainland Chinese and local Hong Kong residents, particularly middle-aged and elderly individuals and families with children. However, there were very few foreign viewers in attendance.
“Our company offered some movie perks, so we came to watch this famous movie, but all our foreign colleagues went to watch Captain America instead,” said Ivy Su, a local Hong Kong resident working in a technology company.
While Ne Zha 2 has created an unstoppable wave in mainland China, breaking several records for Chinese cinema and even becoming the highest-grossing animated film globally, it has struggled to attract younger Hong Kong locals or foreign viewers from Western cultural backgrounds. As a global metropolis, Hong Kong is home to a rich variety of cultures, and the absence of younger locals and foreign viewers reflects the challenges that traditional animated films face in the global market. Films deeply rooted in Chinese traditional culture encounter cultural barriers and differing aesthetic preferences when attempting to be exported.
Sean Lau, a local Hong Kong resident, was interacting with the dynamic promotional screen for Ne Zha 2 after watching the film with his six-year-old daughter. “There are many references from mainland China in the film. While I didn’t understand all of them, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment,” he said. “I really like Ne Zha because I learned to be brave,” said Mr. Lau’s six-year-old daughter Ann Lau, dressed as Ne Zha, with excitement and determination.
Despite cultural differences between Hong Kong and mainland China, the film’s themes of family, growth, and destiny have struck a chord with a broad audience. “The relationship between Ne Zha and his parents reminds me of how I interact with my own family. It’s very relatable,” said Josh Li, a finance professional who is interested in movies. “Though the cultural backgrounds differ, the emotions are universal.”
Jane Han, a doctor in Cultural Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong noted, “I believe Ne Zha 2′s success lies in its use of modern technology to reinterpret traditional culture while retaining universal emotional values. This emotional resonance transcends cultural differences, which presents a direction for films with traditional cultural elements to expand globally.”
“One of the standout aspects of this film is its visual design and craftsmanship, as well as the Chinese cultural elements it incorporates,” said Hong Kong film critic Ho Siu-bin. “Initially, the film didn’t carry much political weight, but it now carries a sort of passive ‘cultural mission’, which I think will affect how some viewers perceive it.”
Ben Zhou, a sophomore from mainland China studying finance at Hong Kong Baptist University, said after watching Nezha 2 for the third time, “I’ve already watched it in mainland China, but I still decided to come to support the Hong Kong premiere. I want to contribute to showing the world that Chinese animation has reached a new level.”
The release of Ne Zha 2 in Hong Kong appears to be a first step in cultural dialogue. According to real-time box office data from WMOOV, as of February 23, the second day of its release, the film’s box office in Hong Kong surpassed 5 million HKD, making it the top-grossing film in the region at the time. This highlights the film’s initial success since its debut in Hong Kong. While the absence of young Hong Kong locals and foreign viewers presents challenges for the global expansion of domestic animated films, the film’s early success in Hong Kong proves the progress of Chinese animation and the global appeal of Chinese cultural elements.
Ne Zha 2′s story and cultural background may be unfamiliar to many young Hong Kong residents and foreign audiences, which may make it less appealing,” said Dr. Han. “This also indicates that for art to truly globalize, it should preserve its cultural essence while being told in a more international language, with less political or social interference, allowing the art itself to shine and become more vibrant.”