At a Glance
- Ne Zha 2 tops the 2025 global box office with $2.2 billion worldwide.
- The Chinese animated sequel eclipses Hollywood blockbusters like Zootopia 2 ($1.3 billion) and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch ($1 billion).
- It broke the record for the highest-grossing animated film, surpassing Inside Out 2‘s $1.7 billion.
Why it matters: The film shows how an international release can dominate the worldwide market, reshaping expectations for future animated franchises.
In 2025, blockbuster sequels and live-action adaptations drew crowds worldwide, but a Chinese animated sequel stole the show by earning $2.2 billion, nearly double the next best performer. This unprecedented success highlights a shift in global box-office dynamics.
Global Box-Office Landscape
Hollywood releases such as Zootopia 2, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning each crossed $440 million, yet they were outpaced by a film many U.S. viewers had never seen.
- Zootopia 2 – $1.3 billion
- Jurassic World: Rebirth – $1.3 billion (approx)
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – $1.3 billion (approx)
- Lilo & Stitch – $1 billion
- A Minecraft Movie – $1 billion
Record-Breaking Chinese Animation
Ne Zha 2 is a sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha, produced by Chengdu Coco Cartoon and Beijing Enlight Media. Directed and written by Jiaozi (Yu Yang), it features the mythic demon child Ne Zha voiced by Lü Yanting and Joseph Cao in Mandarin, and Crystal Lee and Griffin Puatu in English.
| Film | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|
| Ne Zha 2 | $2.2 billion |
| Zootopia 2 | $1.3 billion |
| Lilo & Stitch | $1 billion |
| A Minecraft Movie | $1 billion |
The film broke the record for highest-grossing animated movie, surpassing Inside Out 2‘s $1.7 billion. It also became rare for an international film to lead the box office; past winners include Barbie (2023, $1.4 billion), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022, $2.3 billion), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021, $1.9 billion).
The Guardian stated:
> “Epic battle scenes and spellbinding graphics – and a dose of symbolism – have enticed Chinese audiences to the cinema in their millions.”
The Hollywood Reporter praised it:
> “The sequel is certainly a stupendous achievement in terms of its animation, and clearly has great cultural resonance in its native country.”
A24 released an English dub in August, featuring Michelle Yeoh as Lady Yin and other actors Aleks Le, Vincent Rodriguez III, Rick Zeiff, and William Utay.
The film is now streaming on HBO Max, giving fans a chance to watch the biggest movie of 2025 before New Year’s Eve.
Side Notes
Leonardo DiCaprio mentioned in a recent interview that he hasn’t rewatched Titanic.
Key Takeaways
- Ne Zha 2 earned $2.2 billion, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2025.
- The Chinese animated sequel outperformed major Hollywood blockbusters.
- The film broke the animated box-office record, surpassing Inside Out 2.
In a year dominated by sequels, an international animated film proved that global audiences are ready for stories beyond Hollywood’s usual lineup.
