Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" is continuing to captivate audiences worldwide, earning glowing reviews and enthusiastic reactions.
After debuting in Singapore on March 6, "Ne Zha 2" launched this week in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand, with further Southeast Asian rollouts planned in the coming weeks.
The film premiered in Malaysia on March 8 and was officially released on Thursday.
"It looks great, it's well-structured. Chinese animation has really improved a lot. Everyone should go and watch it," said a Malaysian moviegoer.
The long-anticipated film made its debut in Thailand on Thursday.
A large crowd of moviegoers attended the premiere screening on Wednesday night, queuing up to receive movie posters, posing for photos with cardboard cutouts of the film's characters, and enjoying one of the most successful films in the world.
"I've been waiting for Part 2, and now I really want there to be a Part 3 too! I'm such a huge fan. I love Ne Zha so much! When he transforms and grows up, he looks so cool!" said Nichanan Boonlarp, a Thai moviegoer.
According to data from China's ticketing platform Maoyan as of Saturday, the film's global earnings, including presales, have surpassed 15.019 billion yuan (about 2.09 billion U.S. dollars), a milestone reached just 45 days after its release on Jan 29, claiming the fifth spot on the all-time global box office charts.
This latest feat adds to an impressive list of records for the film, which became the first film to gross one billion U.S. dollars in a single market, the first non-Hollywood title to enter the billion-dollar club, and the highest-grossing animated movie of all time worldwide.
The film's reach to European viewers is also underway. On Friday, cinemas in London, the UK, and Ireland held preview screenings of the film ahead of its official March 21 release in both countries, with further European rollouts to follow.
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" charms Southeast Asian audiences
