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In recent days, movie theaters across China have witnessed an unprecedented scene: long queues of fans, packed day and night, with tickets selling out for everything from early morning screenings to 3 AM shows. Some theaters have even had to add extra screenings to meet the overwhelming demand.
Released during the Lunar New Year, a golden period for Chinese cinema, "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea" was like a breath of fresh air, bringing a refreshing and surprising breeze to the film market. The film not only captivated audiences with its compelling storyline, stunning visuals, and impressive special effects, but also won over viewers' hearts with meaningful messages about friendship, courage, and overcoming personal challenges.
Released during the Lunar New Year holiday, and unchallenged by strong competitors, Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea became a dark horse at the box office, breaking all records.
"Nezha: The Devil Child in the Sea" - this title, both strange and familiar, has become a box office phenomenon in China, a "big screen earthquake" during the 2025 Lunar New Year. Released on the first day of the Lunar New Year (January 29th), the animated film directed by Director Sui Gao quickly took the box office by storm, raking in a massive 3.4 billion yuan (US$472 million) in just a few days, leading the global box office last week, according to National Business Daily.
This figure is not only impressive but also historic, as "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea" has set 16 records in the history of Chinese cinema. From the record for the highest box office revenue on its opening day, the highest box office revenue for an animated film, to the record for the number of viewers attending the theaters... all have been broken by "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea".
This is the first time in the history of the Chinese Lunar New Year box office that a film has achieved such a massive breakthrough.
The appeal of "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea" doesn't stop there. Many market research sites even predict the film will become the first Chinese film to reach $1 billion in revenue. This is a massive milestone that not every film can achieve, and it shows just how dominant "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea" is at the box office.
The appeal of "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea" is not limited to China. The film is expected to be released in many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. This shows that "Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea" is not just an animated film deeply rooted in Chinese culture, but also a work of art with global appeal, capable of captivating the hearts of audiences of all ages and nationalities.
Not only did it excel in terms of revenue and box office occupancy, but on Douban, Nezha: The Mischievous Child of the Sea received a score of 8.6 with many positive reviews from viewers.
By the end of February 2nd, box office revenue for the Lunar New Year in China had reached over 9 billion yuan (over $1.2 billion USD), a staggering figure far surpassing the North American market and leading the world. This is a proud achievement for Chinese cinema, affirming China's position on the world film map.
The film returns with a sequel after this year, featuring meticulous investment in both content and visuals.
Tens of thousands of people commented that the film was better than expected, exceeding their expectations regarding the legend of Nezha's rampage in the ocean. On online forums and social media, praise for the film was overwhelming. A user named Ber received over 12,000 likes for sharing their feelings about the film: "The mythological story is retold in a way that is relevant to the times. Part one is about overcoming fate, part two is about breaking rules and prejudices. Good and evil are not related to race. Shen Gongbao has his loyalty and steadfastness, and even immortals have their own selfishness. By breaking through outdated rules, we will discover the truth. On the surface, the film tells of the Demon Child causing chaos in the sea, but hidden within are the issues of our time."
"Nezha 2" not only met audience expectations but also exceeded them in quality. "The film's effects, from the transformation scenes to the fight sequences, were meticulously and perfectly executed. Every scene was carefully crafted by the crew, especially the breathtaking fight scenes that left viewers amazed and overwhelmed," commented the 163 newspaper.
Nezha 2 not only met audience expectations but also exceeded them in quality.
Continuing from the previous installment, Nezha 2 revolves around Nezha and Ao Bing, the son of the Dragon King of the East Sea, after their ordeal. Although their souls remain intact, their physical bodies are in danger of disappearing. Taiyi Zhenren decides to use a magical lotus flower to reunite their souls and bodies. However, his plan is thwarted by various immortal forces, making things even more difficult.
Originally an animated film for children, despite telling the story of a Chinese mythological character and intense battles, Nezha 2 skillfully blends humor and action. The film continues the cheerful and engaging spirit of the first installment with relatable comedic situations that easily captivate audiences of all ages. Humorous moments, such as the scene where Nezha and Zai Yao "transform" Ao Bing's appearance, easily elicit laughter from viewers.
Every scene was meticulously crafted by the crew, especially the breathtaking matches that left viewers amazed and overwhelmed.
Not only does it score points for its humor, but Chinese media also commented that Nezha 2 is both contemporary and contains profound messages about life. For example, the character Shen Gongbao, with his ideal of wanting to conquer destiny, helps us reflect on the journey to find meaning in life and overcome ourselves.
Part one, Nezha: The Devil Child Reborn, released in summer 2019, was also a success, grossing 5 billion yuan (US$682 million), ranking fourth highest-grossing film in the country's box office history. Both were directed by Dumpling (born in 1980, real name Yang Yu). Initially, the films were not highly regarded by investors, with dozens of large companies refusing to cooperate. The director had to divide the special effects scenes among 20 small and medium-sized companies to handle, and then assemble them. Both parts one and two took five years to produce.
