Inside Out 2 Falls from Position of Highest Grossing Animated Film of All Time

Overview of Box Office Milestones

In an impressive feat, Ne Zha 2 surpassed the global box office earnings of Inside Out 2 within just 23 days.
The film generated an astounding $1.73 billion solely in the Chinese market.
Its success coincided with the underwhelming performance of Captain America: Brave New World, further elevating Ne Zha 2’s competitive stance among Hollywood blockbusters.

The animation industry has seen a significant shake-up, particularly for Disney and Pixar. The longstanding reign of Inside Out 2 as the highest-grossing animated film has come to an abrupt halt, thanks to the meteoric rise of the Chinese animated sequel, Ne Zha 2.

Inside Out 2, which released on June 14, 2024, took audiences on another imaginative journey through Riley Andersen’s evolving teenage mind, alongside her dynamic cast of emotions.

Ne Zha 2: Record-Breaking Performance in Just 23 Days

Remarkably, This Achievement Occurred in a Single Market

Inside Out 2 previously achieved an impressive box office record in September 2024. However, that accomplishment has been eclipsed by Ne Zha 2, which overtook it within a remarkably short period. According to esteemed box office analyst Luiz Fernando on X, Ne Zha 2 toppled Inside Out 2’s figures after amassing $1.71 billion in its 21st day of release in China. Its earnings have now reached $1.73 billion and primarily stem from a single territory.

Interestingly, Ne Zha 2 benefitted from the disappointing performance of Captain America: Brave New World in China. Despite its limited screening in U. S.theaters—only 660 venues—Ne Zha 2 still managed to rake in $10 million within its first six days, setting a record for Chinese films and ranking as the 18th highest for non-English animated features in the U. S.

Setting an unprecedented standard, Ne Zha 2 became the inaugural film to surpass the $1 billion milestone in one market, surpassing the domestic gross of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which stood at $936 million. Analysts project that Ne Zha 2 may soon breach the $2 billion mark, making it the first major success for a non-Hollywood production in that domain.

Captivating Audiences with Rich Cultural Lore

The saga of “Ne Zha, ” which narrates the tale of a rambunctious demon boy battling dragons, has consistently resonated with Chinese audiences, as evidenced by the $742 million gross of the original Ne Zha in 2019. The faltering of Captain America: Brave New World in Chinese markets—with a mere $12 million in its opening week—left an advantageous gap for Ne Zha 2 to dominate, ultimately limiting its competition.

As this news spreads across Hollywood and the English-speaking audience, curiosity about the rise of non-Hollywood animations continues to grow. With a surge of national pride propelling its viewership, there is a real possibility that Ne Zha 2 could challenge legendary box office leaders, including Avatar‘s impressive $2.8 billion record. While this may sound ambitious, analysts suggest that Ne Zha 2 could reach $2 billion in revenue soon, placing it in a position to potentially rival iconic films like Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Currently, Ne Zha 2 stands as the eighth highest-grossing film of all time, having displaced Inside Out 2. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Pixar can create a formidable contender in Inside Out 3.

Source: Luiz Fernando/X

Source & Images