The Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 has made history by becoming the highest-grossing animated movie worldwide, surpassing Pixar’s Inside Out 2. According to ticketing platform Maoyan, the film has earned 12.3 billion yuan ($1.69 billion) globally, making it the eighth highest-grossing film ever.

Directed by Yang Yu, also known as Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 is a sequel to the 2019 hit Ne Zha. Inspired by the classic Chinese novel The Investiture of the Gods, the story follows a young hero with magical powers who protects his town. Unlike Hollywood animated films that rely on international sales, almost all of Ne Zha 2’s earnings have come from China.

The film has also set a new record in IMAX, earning $106 million in China and surpassing Avengers: Endgame ($83.5 million). Ne Zha 2’s strong performance helped China achieve its highest-ever box office earnings during the Lunar New Year holiday. Over the February 14–16 weekend alone, the film earned $275.3 million.

With its success in China, Ne Zha 2 is expected to climb even higher in the global rankings. If it continues performing well, it could overtake The Lion King and secure a spot among the top ten highest-grossing movies of all time.

China’s film industry is off to a record-breaking start in 2025, with total earnings reaching $2.77 billion—nearly double the revenue from the same period last year.