China's film industry set a new record during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, as the box office from Jan 28 to Feb 4 reached a staggering 9.51 billion yuan (approximately 1.33 billion U.S. dollars), the China Film Administration announced Wednesday.
The animated feature "Ne Zha 2" has surpassed the 2021 war epic "The Battle at Lake Changjin" to become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.
On Friday, this animated blockbuster's box office revenue exceeded 6.25 billion yuan (about 875 million U.S. dollars), achieving the milestone in just eight days and five hours, according to ticketing platforms Maoyan and Beacon.
While rooted in Chinese mythology, "Ne Zha 2" -- directed by Yang Yu, who goes by the nickname Jiaozi -- takes bold creative strides by focusing on Ne Zha's struggles and growth.
The film reimagines classic elements of Chinese mythology, preserving cultural authenticity while offering fresh interpretations with themes such as personal identity, self-fulfillment, family and friendship, which resonate widely with audiences and evoke a strong sense of empathy.
(Reported by Dong Yufei, Edited by Tian Minna)