The global total earnings of Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," including presales, reached a new high of 11.5 billion yuan (about 1.59 billion U.S. dollars) as of Sunday morning, according to box office tracker Dengta Data.
With the ongoing success of "Ne Zha 2", the popularity of the blockbuster's screenings at theaters continues to rise. Most of the audience members at the screenings are fans who are watching it for the second or even third time.
"The box office contribution of the IMAX version of 'Ne Zha 2' at our theater has currently reached over 44 percent. We've also increased the number of late-night screenings twice, and now our latest show ends at 23:30," said Zhao Xiaoqing, Cinema Department director of the China Film Museum.
"Ne Zha 2" continues to be a hit, and the film is set to be released in Hong Kong SAR soon.
Those who couldn't wait any longer to watch the film decided to visit neighboring Shenzhen City for an earlier viewing.
In a cinema hall in Shenzhen City, the electronic screen are displaying that all showtimes for "Ne Zha 2" have been sold out, with crowds of people waiting at the ticket check-in area. Among those queuing to watch the film, many are tourists from Hong Kong.
"I heard the box office is doing great, so I've particularly taken my kids with me here to watch it," said a Hong Kong tourist.
"My favorite is Ne Zha because he looks really cute, and my classmates all say it's pretty good," said a girl from Hong Kong.
"'Ne Zha 2' is the most popular films in recent years, continuing its huge success since the Chinese New Year holiday. It has attracted many Hong Kong visitors to Shenzhen to watch the film here. After its release, the proportion of Hong Kong viewers in our theater has been around 30 to 40 percent," said Liao Zeyi, manager of a cinema in Shenzhen.
The sequel continues the story of the iconic character Ne Zha, a rebellious boy-god from Chinese mythology. Set after the events of the first film, it follows Ne Zha and Ao Bing as their souls are saved but their physical forms face dissolution. With the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren (True Man of the Grand Unity), who uses the Seven-Colored Lotus to reconstruct their bodies, the two heroes must face numerous challenges.
The film's exploration of universal themes, such as defiance in the face of power, the struggle against fate, and embracing self-confidence, has struck a chord with the viewers.
Total earnings of animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" reach new high
Total earnings of animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," including presales, reach new high
