Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha 2” closed its mainland theatrical run on 30 June after 153 days, finishing with 15.44 billion yuan (about $2.15 billion) and 324 million admissions, according to ticketing platform Maoyan. The takings make it the biggest film in Chinese history, the world’s highest-grossing animated feature and the fifth-highest earner overall worldwide. Its domestic total alone eclipses the entire gross of its 2019 predecessor and broke 113 local box-office records. The sequel’s success dominated China’s cinema market in the first half of 2025: official data show national box-office revenue reached 29.2 billion yuan, with more than half generated by the film. Including overseas receipts, the picture’s global haul stands at roughly $2.2 billion, setting new benchmarks for a non-English-language release. With the Chinese run complete, distributor CMC Pictures has partnered with A24 to launch an English-language version on 22 August. The dub—presented in IMAX, 3D and other premium formats—will open simultaneously in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, featuring Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh among the voice cast. The rollout will test whether the record-breaking appeal of director Yang Yu’s mythological saga can translate to major Western markets.