Los Angeles, California, USA - Feb 21, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of moviegoers having tickets checked before entering cinema
2. Various of moviegoer buying "Ne Zha 2" ticket on machine
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Li Tian, film fan (starting with shot 2):
"I love the story behind Ne Zha, and I've been reading this cartoon about Ne Zha since I was a little kid, and now I really wanted to see the movie, especially given its unprecedented success at the box office."
4. Poster of "Ne Zha 2"
5. Clips from "Ne Zha 2" shown on theater screen
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Tian Lei, film enthusiast (starting with shot 5):
"It took five years for the production cycle to make this second movie, and the special effects are much better than the first one. Also the characters, the animation quality and special effects are all much better than before. And I hope to see more and more Chinese movies in the global film industry."
7. Animation showing records set by "Ne Zha 2" after its release
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Stanley Rosen, professor of political science and international relations, University of Southern California (partially overlaid with shot 9):
"It's a big step forward in terms of special effects. It's a big step forward for the budget, even. [It's] certainly the most expensive animated film that China has produced. And some of the others have been quite heavily budgeted. So this is unusual."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
9. Clips from "Ne Zha 2"
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
10. Various of IMAX theater promoting "Ne Zha 2"
11. Various of theater exterior, traffic

The Chinese-produced animated sensation "Ne Zha 2" has made its mark on the U.S. market following its release last Friday, quickly winning over audiences after its first week in American theaters.

The film grossed 7.2 million U.S. dollars during its opening weekend in the U.S., reflecting the appetite for the film among American moviegoers.

As a sequel to the 2019 animated hit "Ne Zha", the latest installment continues the tale of a rebellious boy-god based on Chinese mythology, and the story has proven popular among many who headed out to catch the film in U.S. cinemas.

"I love the story behind Ne Zha, and I've been reading this cartoon about Ne Zha since I was a little kid, and now I really wanted to see the movie, especially given its unprecedented success at the box office," said Li Tian, a film fan in Los Angeles.

Audiences have been captivated not only by the film's stunning visuals but also by its rich storytelling and deep cultural resonance, while fans who have seen both "Ne Zha" films highlighted the significant advancements they have observed in China's animation industry.

"It took five years for the production cycle to make this second movie, and the special effects are much better than the first one. Also the characters, the animation quality and special effects are all much better than before. And I hope to see more and more Chinese movies in the global film industry," said Tian Lei, a U.S. film enthusiast.

Since its release on the Chinese mainland on the Chinese New Year on Jan. 29, the film has shattered multiple records, and on Tuesday it became the highest-grossing animation movie of all time after surpassing the U.S. animated hit "Inside Out 2."

As well as being the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time, the movie is also the highest-grossing non-Hollywood production ever, and it became the first film to rake in over a billion U.S. dollars in a single market.

Since its initial release in 24 major U.S. cities on Feb. 14, screenings of the film have since expanded to over 400 cities and 770 theaters across the country.

Experts say the big budget production of "Ne Zha 2" represents a significant leap forward for China's film industry, particularly in its impressive special effects.

"It's a big step forward in terms of special effects. It's a big step forward for the budget, even. [It's] certainly the most expensive animated film that China has produced. And some of the others have been quite heavily budgeted. So this is unusual," said Stanley Rosen, a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Southern California.