Ne Zha 2: Devil Sea Fury, the animated blockbuster that has stormed Chinese mainland box offices with a staggering 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) in ticket sales, is set to hit big screens in Hong Kong and Macao.
Although its producer has stated that the exact release date remains under wraps, some Hong Kong media reported that the film is expected to be released in the city on Feb 27.
According to Wen Wei Po, the film is set to be screened in 200 daily showings simultaneously in Hong Kong and Macao, which is unprecedented in Hong Kong’s film history.
READ MORE: Ne Zha 2 makes history as it passes 10 billion yuan in ticket receipts
The film will be jointly distributed in the two special administrative regions by Mandarin Motion Pictures, Intercontinental Film Distributors, Sil-Metropole Organization, and Emperor Motion Pictures, as announced by Mandarin Motion Pictures and Enlight Media, one of the film’s producers.
A sequel to the 2019 hit Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child, Ne Zha 2 has shattered multiple records. It has become the highest-grossing film in China, and the first non-Hollywood film to crack the global all-time box office top 20. Directed by Jiaozi (Yang Yu) and backed by China’s leading animation studios Cocoa Beans Animation and Enlight Media’s Coloroom Pictures, the film reimagines a beloved figure from Chinese mythology.
Ne Zha, a rebellious deity born with demonic powers, defies fate and authority. In the sequel, he battles the Dragon King of the Four Seas and challenges the celestial order—a narrative blending ancient lore with modern themes of defiance and self-determination.
The production involved over 4,000 animators from 140 teams, who spent five years crafting triple the number of characters and visual effects shots compared to the first edition.
READ MORE: 'Ne Zha 2' becomes first non-Hollywood film to hit $1b-mark in single market
“Mandarin Motion Pictures has collaborated with Enlight for many years,” said the company’s chairman, Raymond Wong Pak-ming. “We are honored to work with Enlight again and bring such an outstanding Chinese animated film to the Hong Kong and Macao markets, allowing audiences to experience it in theaters.”
Since its Chinese New Year debut on Jan 29, Ne Zha 2 has dominated mainland cinemas, surpassing its predecessor’s 5 billion yuan haul and outpacing Hollywood rivals.
The film, part of China’s push to boost cultural exports, was officially released on Thursday in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea, and on Friday in the United States and Canada.
Contact the writer at lilei@chinadailyhk.com
