On February 13, 2025, China witnessed the birth of its first film to achieve a box office milestone of 10 billion yuan. According to data from various platforms, by the evening of February 13, the animated film “Ne Zha: The Demon Boy Comes to the World” had reached a total box office revenue of 10 billion yuan (including pre-sales), becoming the first film in China’s history to achieve this feat.
Since its official release on January 29, 2025, the film has set multiple records. It topped China’s all-time box office chart on February 6 and became the highest-grossing film in the global single-market box office on February 7. By February 17, the film’s global box office had exceeded 12 billion yuan, surpassing the classic animated film “The Lion King” to enter the top 10 of the global box office rankings
Industry experts believe that the success of “Ne Zha: The Demon Boy Comes to the World” reflects the high-quality development of Chinese animated films and the immense potential of China’s film market. The film draws inspiration from China’s rich traditional culture while integrating contemporary elements. For example, the character “Boundary Beast” is inspired by the bronze figures from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha archaeological sites, while Taiyi Zhenren is portrayed as a comedic figure speaking Sichuan dialect.
Technically, the film features three times the number of characters compared to its predecessor, with more refined modeling and realistic skin textures. It includes nearly 2,000 special effects shots, produced by a team of over 4,000 members.
The film has also been released in multiple overseas markets, receiving significant attention from international media and audiences. In Australia and New Zealand, it topped the box office for Chinese-language films on its opening day, while in North America, it set a new record for the opening weekend box office of a Chinese-language film.
“The success of ‘Ne Zha: The Demon Boy Comes to the World’ not only demonstrates the power of Chinese animation but also highlights the unique charm of Chinese culture,” said Liu Wenzhang, president of Chengdu Coco Media Animation Film Co., Ltd. and the film’s producer