China’s box office continues to thrive, with the animated epic Ne Zha 2 leading the charge and making history in the process. Over the week of March 3–9, the film grossed an impressive RMB274.9 million ($38.2 million), bringing its total earnings to a staggering $2.04 billion, according to data from Artisan Gateway. This monumental achievement makes Ne Zha 2 the first Chinese film to surpass the $2 billion mark at the global box office, marking a groundbreaking milestone for the country’s film industry. The movie’s success is not just a testament to its creative brilliance but also to the growing influence and reach of Chinese cinema on a global scale.
Ne Zha 2’s dominance extends beyond its overall box office performance. The film continued to shatter records in IMAX theaters, earning an additional $4.2 million over the week. This pushed its cumulative IMAX earnings to $148 million in China and $150.6 million worldwide, catapulting it to the sixth spot in the all-time IMAX rankings. This places Ne Zha 2 ahead of Hollywood heavyweights such as Interstellar ($145 million), Avengers: Infinity War ($145.8 million), and Dune 2 ($146.5 million). The film’s success in IMAX is particularly noteworthy, as it reflects its ability to draw audiences to premium formats for an immersive cinematic experience. With IMAX releases planned in the U.K., Ireland, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand in the coming weeks, Ne Zha 2 is poised to further expand its global reach and solidify its position as a modern classic.
The film’s historic run also saw it overtake Avengers: Infinity War to become the sixth highest-grossing film of all time. This achievement underscores the growing global appeal of Chinese cinema and the ability of homegrown stories to resonate with audiences worldwide. While Ne Zha 2 continues to dominate, other films are also making their mark on the Chinese box office. In second place, Detective Chinatown 1900, produced by As One Production, added $4.6 million to its total, bringing its cumulative earnings to $484 million. As the latest installment in the popular mystery-comedy series, the film has maintained a steady performance, though it remains far behind the reigning champion Ne Zha 2. The enduring success of the Detective Chinatown franchise highlights the strong following for local storytelling and the popularity of blending mystery and comedy in Chinese cinema.
In addition to the top two films, the weekend saw several new releases vying for attention. Debuting in third place was Always Have Always Will, a heartwarming tale from Lian Ray Pictures about a down-on-his-luck man embarking on a road trip with a sick girl. The film opened with a modest $2.9 million in its first weekend, suggesting a more niche appeal compared to the bigger blockbusters. Meanwhile, Vision Distribution’s There’s Still Tomorrow, directed by Italian filmmaker Paola Cortellesi, premiered in fourth place with $2 million. This Italian smash hit tells the story of a working-class wife and mother in postwar Rome striving for a better future, offering a poignant and emotionally resonant narrative. These smaller releases demonstrate the diversity of films currently in theaters, catering to a wide range of audience preferences.
The romantic drama Love Island, from Kai Pictures, rounded out the top five with a debut weekend gross of $1.9 million. While these figures may seem modest compared to Ne Zha 2’s historic earnings, they highlight the dynamic nature of China’s box office, where both big-budget epics and smaller, genre-specific films can coexist and find their audiences. Other notable debuts included Girls on Wire, a Berlinale title directed by Vivian Qu, which opened in eighth place with $1.8 million, and Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated Mickey 17, which bowed in 10th place with $1.4 million, according to Ent Group. These films, while not chart-toppers, bring a level of artistic and cultural significance to the box office, showcasing the breadth of storytelling talent across the globe.
The overall box office for the weekend totaled $60.3 million, contributing to China’s impressive 2025 cumulative total of $3.27 billion. This represents a remarkable 60.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024, signaling a strong recovery and growth phase for the Chinese film industry. The success of Ne Zha 2 and other films underscores the vitality of China’s cinematic landscape, where local productions are not only breaking records but also gaining international recognition. As the year progresses, it will be exciting to see how these films continue to perform and what new stories will emerge to captivate audiences both at home and abroad.
