A24’s ‘Ne Zha 2’ Wide Release Hits Year-Low $1.5M Opening

A24 tried to hype up interest with an English-language re-release of China’s mega-hit “Ne Zha 2,” but U.S. audiences didn’t bite.

The film, with Michelle Yeoh among the dubbed cast, opened to just $1.5M from 2,228 theaters — the weakest wide-release debut of the year. Not that it matters much: the sequel is already a multi-billion dollar phenomenon, and North America was always going to be an afterthought.

“Ne Zha 2” has earned $2.2 billion worldwide and it’s important to note this, $2.17 billion of that came from China, surpassing “Inside Out 2” to become the highest-grossing animated feature of all time. It’s now the fifth biggest film in box office history, with nearly every dollar coming from China’s mainland, where it debuted during the Lunar New Year and immediately caught fire.

How did this happen? There are many theories out there, and its well-timed release during the Chinese new year, on February 14, is one of them. I’ve heard some people claim that the Chinese government cooked the books, so to speak, on this one, and exaggerated the numbers — although there’s no concrete evidence.

“Ne Zha 2,” which has been described as a “144 minute barrage of mythological mayhem” is said to have a “cavalcade of supporting characters,” “infantile humor” and “state of the art eye-popping animation.”

The film, which roughly translates to “The Devil’s Child,” draws inspiration from the mythological figure Ne Zha, a character deeply rooted in Chinese folklore. While its high-octane, modern reimagining of ancient tales has struck a chord with domestic audiences, that same cultural specificity may limit its impact overseas—particularly in the U.S., where the myth and its emotional weight aren’t as familiar.

Have any of our readers seen “Ne Zha 2”? Is it worth a look? Curious to read your thoughts on this landmark Chinese film.