Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2: Demon Child Conquers the Sea grossed over HK$6.57 million ($845,554) on its debut in Hong Kong and Macao on Saturday, achieving the highest first-day box office for an animated film in the two cities.

Over 92,000 people showed up on Saturday to watch the movie, which has raked in more than 13.5 billion RMB ($1.8 billion) across the world and is ranked 8th in global box office sales. Interest in the movie prompted distributors to increase the number of day-one screenings from 500 to more than 800 in 2D and IMAX formats, which is also a new record for movies shown in Hong Kong and Macao.

In both cities the film, which is in Mandarin Chinese, was captioned with subtitles in traditional Chinese and English. Cinemas operated by the film’s four local distributors - Mandarin Motion Pictures, Intercontinental Film Distributors, Sil-Metropole Organization, and Emperor Motion Pictures - arranged around 400 screenings on Monday, with tickets for some sold out.

READ MORE: Crowds cheer as record-breaking Ne Zha 2 hits Hong Kong screens

On Sunday, social media influencer group China Retold organized a free screening of Ne Zha 2. People formed a long queue outside the cinema in Causeway Bay from early in the morning for the screening, and the audience frequently erupted in exclamations of awe and laughter during the show.

After the screening, Sebastian Lee, a British student studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said news about the movie's box office success had piqued his curiosity and pushed him to attend the screening.

Although he initially did not quite catch the background of Chinese mythology, the film explained these cultural elements in a simple and understandable way, making it easy for people without a Chinese background to understand, he said.

He also praised the film’s special effects, particularly those in the final battle scene, which he said demonstrated an unprecedented level of detail and complexity in animation.

Laurent Daury, a French lawyer working in Hong Kong, said that although it was his first time watching a Chinese animated film, the movie exceeded his expectations and gave him a strong sense of Chinese culture.

He said the film reaffirmed his understanding of Chinese traditional culture, particularly the importance of respect, including respect for work, family and skills.

Compared to Western-made animated films, Daury said he believed the film conveys more traditional cultural values, which he admired. He added that he would definitely recommend the film to others and said he plans to watch it again with his wife and friends.

Kindergarten teacher Karolina Gruschka said the elements of ancient Chinese mythology incorporated in the film help viewers, especially children, to understand the traditional cultural story better.

She was touched by the friendship between the two main characters, Ne Zha and Ao Bing. Despite coming from entirely different backgrounds, their connection endures all challenges, showing that true friendship can overcome any obstacle regardless of one's origins, she said.

Gruschka also said that the unique aspect of the film was its core concept of the struggle between good and evil, conveying an uplifting belief that one can change one’s destiny.

READ MORE: Blockbuster Ne Zha 2 to hit HK, Macao screens from Saturday

Ne Zha 2 reimagines the tale of Ne Zha, a rebellious deity from Chinese mythology, intertwining ancient folklore with modern themes of defiance and self-determination.

The film was released in the mainland on Jan 29, the first day of the Year of the Snake, and soon became the highest-grossing film in China, with box office sales continuing to rise.

It has also been released in many regions overseas, including the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and will debut in Singapore and Malaysia in March.

Contact the writer at fangxue@chinadailyhk.com