It’s been nearly two months since Ne Zha 2 exploded into cinemas across China, and the animated epic is still charging ahead—with its sights now set on one of the most iconic box office giants of all time: Titanic.
'Ne Zha 2' official Sina Weibo announced that Ne Zha 2 will extend its theatrical run to April 30. Screenshot by That's
On March 21, the film’s official Sina Weibo announced that Ne Zha 2 will extend its theatrical run yet again, now playing until April 30 across Chinese cinemas.
The move comes just as the film’s total box office gross hit RMB15.2 billion (USD2.1 billion), placing it fifth on the global all-time box office list, just behind Rose, Jack, and the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
That Ne Zha 2–Titanic gap? Just RMB1.2 billion (~USD166 million).
Highest-Grossing Films of All Time
1. Avatar (2009), $2,923,706,026
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019), $2,797,501,328
3. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), $2,320,250,281
4. Titanic (1997), $2,257,844,554
5. Ne Zha 2 (2025), $2,100,443,312
Delayed Farewell or Final Push?
Originally released on January 29, Ne Zha 2 has been dominating the charts for weeks, consistently pulling in a higher share of daily box office revenue than its share of screenings.
Despite now making under RMB10 million a day, it’s still holding on to 30% of all screen time—a feat few films manage this late in their run.
But can this month-long extension really be enough to dethrone James Cameron’s unsinkable juggernaut?
The reality: it’s going to be tight.
China’s domestic audience is close to saturation, and the daily numbers are dipping. But while things may be slowing down at home, the film is now looking to other markets for a late-game boost.
Ne Zha 2 has already become the highest-grossing Chinese mainland film in Hong Kong box office history, crossing HKD50 million.
In North America, it earned around USD20 million, a solid showing for a foreign-language animated film with limited release.
Now, all eyes are on Europe and Japan.
The film recently launched in 37 European countries, including the UK and Germany, where audiences have shown increasing interest in Chinese fantasy storytelling.
Analysts estimate that if the film performs well with European crowds, it could rake in an additional RMB300–500 million.
Meanwhile, Japan is gearing up for a subtitled release on April 4, where the original Ne Zha gained a strong cult following.
With the sequel’s more refined animation and bigger narrative scale, expectations are high for the Japanese box office to provide that final nudge Ne Zha 2 needs to crack the top four globally.
Breaking Records & Barriers
Let’s take a moment to appreciate just how far China's homegrown animated hero has come.
From its record-breaking domestic debut during Spring Festival to surpassing every Chinese film in history, Ne Zha 2 has already made its mark.
It overtook The Lion King remake back in February to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
READ MORE: 'Ne Zha 2' Becomes Highest-Grossing Animated Film of All Time
It’s a win not just for Chinese animation, but for global storytelling diversity—and for every audience that’s ever wanted to see a rebellious, fire-spitting demigod take on dragons and destiny.
So, can Ne Zha 2 do it?
The odds are slim, the clock is ticking.
And if you’re still asking, “Should I watch it?”—remember, it’s still in theaters.
So grab your popcorn, bring your friends, and maybe help make history.
READ MORE: Ultimate Guide to Booking Cinema Tickets in China
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[Cover image via That's]
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