Opinion | Why Ne Zha 2 is part of a broader Chinese cultural renaissance

The film’s strong box office performance marks a shift in how Chinese culture is perceived by young people in China and around the world

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An artist creates a Ne Zha-themed wall painting in Shijiazhuang City, north China’s Hebei province, on February 19. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:30am, 23 Feb 2025

Chinese cinema had quite a momentous start in 2025. With multiple domestic films not only achieving impressive box office success but also gaining increasing attention on the global stage, the Chinese film industry has witnessed extraordinary growth in recent years.

However, few have captured the public’s imagination quite like this year’s animation film Ne Zha 2. The movie has surpassed expectations, becoming the first non-Hollywood film to reach over US$1 billion in box office receipts.

And within just a few weeks, that benchmark became a distant memory, as the movie quickly became the highest-grossing animated film globally. On Wednesday, it became the eighth-highest-grossing film in global history.

And yet, it continues to soar. There are reports of multiple platforms broadcasting real-time updates of its box office status. As the number grows, the film is marking something far more significant than mere ticket sales. Some have expressed online that it’s not just a box office climb but “a raising of the national flag”. For many Chinese, it’s not just a film – it’s a piece of cultural heritage being recognised and celebrated around the world.

Even the BBC has noted that the success of Ne Zha 2 stirred a wave of national pride among Chinese audiences.

What’s even more telling is that the film’s reach has extended beyond China. Overseas Chinese students, as well as foreign audiences, have flocked to international screenings, eager to experience a story that’s deeply rooted in Chinese tradition.