China’s animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 continues to make waves at the international box office, with its latest rankings in Australia and New Zealand further boosting its success in Oceania.
The fantasy adventure film rose to second place in New Zealand’s weekend total box office list ending Feb 23, raking in at least A$342,734 ($217,773), according to the country’s industry tracker Numero.
In Australia, the film took third spot with at least A$1,504,128 in takings from the weekend.
READ MORE: Ne Zha 2 makes history as it passes 10 billion yuan in ticket receipts
James Curtis, a humanities undergraduate in Sydney, who had watched the movie, said he was impressed by its storyline and animation.
"I can understand why local and foreign moviegoers crowded the cinema for this," said the 20-year-old. "I do want to know more about these aspects of Chinese culture. It definitely helps build better understanding across our peoples."
Ne Zha 2, the sequel to the 2019 animation based on the eponymous childlike Chinese folk deity, recorded its second straight weekend as the third-highest-grossing feature in Australian cinemas, reaping more than A$5.2 million in the country, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Its first weekend per-screen average of A$25,000 is “the best of any film this year”, putting Ne Zha 2 on track to surpass the $1.9 billion mark globally in its second week, the newspaper said.
“Non-English-language releases are increasingly important to the Australian cinema business, particularly in the mainland capitals, where foreign students make up a large proportion of customers,” it added.
University of Adelaide communication and media studies researcher Hong Yanyan told China Daily that the film “breathes fresh life into traditional Chinese mythology and philosophy in a way that feels both modern and rooted” in Chinese culture.
“What made the film truly take off was simple; it delivered a solid, entertaining story with even more advanced and breathtaking visuals than Ne Zha 1.
“The box office success of Ne Zha 2 shows that audiences, both Chinese and non-Chinese, are open to stories that reflect different cultural perspectives,” Hong said.
“It’s not just about nostalgia or national pride; it’s about storytelling that feels universal while staying true to its roots.”
READ MORE: Crowds cheer as record-breaking Ne Zha 2 hits Hong Kong screens
She added that social media and streaming services have also played a significant role in the film’s impact.
“Word-of-mouth spreads fast, and when a film like Ne Zha 2 gains traction, it doesn’t just stay within Chinese-speaking communities, it reaches global audiences through fan discussions, reviews, and digital platforms,” Hong said.
She added, “This is an exciting time for Chinese animation and storytelling in general. As long as filmmakers continue to innovate while staying authentic to their cultural heritage, I think we’ll see more and more Chinese stories making an impact worldwide.”
Contact the writer at xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn
