‘Ne Zha 2’ is first non-Hollywood movie to surpass $2 billion mark

CEBU, Philippines — “Ne Zha 2” continues to break box office records, as it bags the historic milestone of being the first Chinese, non-Hollywood film to earn more than $2 billion USD in the box office. The film also ranks as the sixth best-selling film on IMAX. These achievements have come one after the other, as “Ne Zha 2” is now currently the highest-grossing animated film of all time.

“Ne zha 2” follows the events of the first film, with Master Taiyi trying to reconstruct Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s bodies which were destroyed by heavenly lightning. As they regain their strength, the realm is put in peril as Ao Bing’s dad swears revenge for what the human world did to his son.

Director Jiao Zi emphasises the themes of parental love and family in “Ne Zha 2”, to give thanks for the support he got from his parents in his pursuit of animation. He tells South China Morning Post: “My family is harmonious. Thanks to my parents’ support and tolerance, I could carry on working in this industry. So I wished to integrate my real thoughts and feelings into my work.”

Jiao Zi graduated with a degree in pharmacy, but quickly found that his interests lie elsewhere. Studying animation on his own, his mother convinced his father to support his newfound passion. “My mother knows I am not a flamboyant, but a hard-working person. She trusts me,” he says. After a period of financial struggle following the passing of Jiao Zi’s father, things turned around after his short film “See Through” won multiple local and international awards.

“Ne Zha 2” is now in Philippine cinemas.