The Chinese animated sensation, Ne Zha II, has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 12 billion yuan (approximately $1.66 billion) in global box office revenue as of February 17. This achievement places Ne Zha II among the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time and marks it as the only non-Hollywood production in a roster dominated by blockbuster giants like Avatar, Titanic, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Domestically, Ne Zha II has dominated the Chinese market, capturing the lion's share of this year's box office revenue and setting a new record in the nation's cinematic history. The film's success extends beyond China’s borders, making a significant impact internationally. Following its North American release on February 14, Ne Zha II broke into the top five of the weekend box office charts, according to U.S.-based global media measurement and analytics company Comscore.
U.S. animator Sheila Sofian praised the film, stating, \"I'm so impressed on so many different levels with the accomplishments of this particular film. Because I had already seen the previous film, I was sort of expecting the same level, which was brilliant. But this grows even higher in terms of production design, sound design, and music. The story itself was so complicated, and all the twists and turns kept me guessing the entire time. So I was very engaged, sort of on the edge of my seat the whole time.\"
Amid the fervor surrounding the success of this Chinese animation blockbuster, the \"China Travel with Chinese Films\" campaign was launched on Monday at the China National Film Museum in Beijing. The initiative aims to leverage the international acclaim of Chinese New Year blockbusters alongside recent visa-free transit policies to attract more overseas visitors to China.
Hosted by the China Film Administration and China Media Group (CMG) and organized by China Global Television Network (CGTN) and the Film Channel Program Center, the campaign emphasizes \"film + tourism\" by integrating Chinese film screenings, international film festivals, and overseas Chinese film festivals. This approach invites foreign audiences to experience China through cinematic storytelling.
By fostering innovative collaborations between the film and tourism industries, the campaign seeks to develop themed travel routes that offer immersive experiences in both movie culture and China's natural and cultural landscapes, effectively bridging media exposure with consumer engagement.
Jiang Qiudi, head of CMG’s Europe Bureau, stated that CMG will utilize its global network of foreign correspondents and partnerships with numerous international media outlets and social platforms to promote the campaign. CMG plans to expand the campaign's reach and influence, strengthen collaborations with international film institutions, and establish flagship events that highlight outstanding Chinese films, further solidifying the global presence of Chinese cinema.
Filmmakers and production teams behind this year's New Year blockbusters also shared the latest updates on box office performance around the world. The event was attended by representatives from CMG, the Film Bureau of the Publicity Department of Communist Party of China Central Committee, major Chinese film production and distribution companies, film studios, travel agencies, and the Silk Road International Film Festival.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
