At a Glance
- Chinese animated sequel “Ne Zha 2” earned $2.2 billion worldwide, topping the 2025 box office.
- It surpassed Hollywood blockbusters like “Zootopia 2” ($1.3 billion) and Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” ($1 billion).
- The film broke the record for highest-grossing animated movie, overtaking “Inside Out 2” ($1.7 billion).
- Why it matters: It shows international films can dominate global markets and reshapes expectations for animated releases.
The 2025 box-office season was dominated by a Chinese animated sequel that outperformed even the biggest Hollywood titles. “Ne Zha 2,” produced by Chengdu Coco Cartoon and Beijing Enlight Media, raked in $2.2 billion worldwide, eclipsing the top 15 blockbusters of the year.
2025’s Top 15 Blockbusters
- “Zootopia 2” – $1.3 billion
- “Jurassic World: Rebirth” – $1.2 billion
- “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” – $1.1 billion
- “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” – $1.0 billion
- “The Conjuring: Last Rites” – $0.9 billion
- “Captain America: Brave New World” – $0.9 billion
- “Wicked: For Good” – $0.9 billion
- “Lilo & Stitch” – $1 billion
- “A Minecraft Movie” – $1 billion
- “Ne Zha 2” – $2.2 billion
| Movie | Worldwide Gross | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ne Zha 2 | $2.2 billion | Record-breaking animated film |
| Zootopia 2 | $1.3 billion | Top 15 blockbuster |
| Lilo & Stitch | $1 billion | Disney live-action adaptation |
Ne Zha 2 was directed and written by Jiaozi (also known as Yu Yang). The mythological hero Ne Zha is voiced by Lü Yanting and Joseph Cao in Mandarin, and Crystal Lee and Griffin Puatu in English.
News Of Fort Worth quoted the film as follows:
> “Epic battle scenes and spellbinding graphics – and a dose of symbolism – have enticed Chinese audiences to the cinema in their millions.”
News Of Fort Worth also praised it:
> “The sequel is certainly a stupendous achievement in terms of its animation, and clearly has great cultural resonance in its native country.”
In August, A24 released an English dub in the U.S., featuring Michelle Yeoh as Ne Zha’s mother Lady Yin, with Aleks Le, Vincent Rodriguez III, Rick Zeiff, and William Utay.
This month the film became available to stream on HBO Max, giving fans another way to watch the biggest movie of 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Ne Zha 2 earned $2.2 billion, the highest worldwide gross of 2025.
- It broke the record for the highest-grossing animated film, surpassing “Inside Out 2.”
- International releases can outshine Hollywood blockbusters, reshaping the global box-office landscape.
The record-setting success of “Ne Zha 2” confirms that animated stories from outside Hollywood can capture global audiences and set new industry benchmarks.
