It isn’t every day that an animated film becomes one of the highest-grossing films of all time. 

Ne Zha 2’s box office journey

As of the writing of this piece, only two animated films occupy space in the top ten. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise, considering their chokehold over popular culture, but only one of those films belongs to Disney. (Don’t cry for them, though, as they occupy five of those ten slots.) The film sits in fifth place, higher than Disney’s Inside Out 2, which is Ne Zha 2. If you live in the West, you might’ve heard of the Chinese film in the context of its new status as a financial behemoth, specifically the novelty of a movie made outside of the Hollywood cocoon breaking into such a U.S.-dominated club. 

That novelty has caught the attention of A24, which produced a dubbed version of Ne Zha 2 for a second run at domestic distribution. (The subtitled version had a limited U.S. release earlier this year.) As insular as American culture can be, there is a substantial market for the film, comprised of families, foreign film cinephiles, and pop culture fans who have severe “fear of missing out” syndrome.

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Then there is Ne Zha 2’s awards potential: its record-breaking box office automatically catapults it into the Best Animated Feature conversation, which already looks poised to skip over Disney again. (Eyes are on KPop Demon Hunters and Scarlet, in particular). It makes sense that A24 would want to claim responsibility for this international juggernaut breaking through in the United States, so much so that they tapped Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh for the dub.

Ne Zha 2’s plot

(L-R) Ao Shun, Ao Run, Ao Guang, Ao QinCredit: Courtesy of A24.

A24’s backing will drive audiences to the film that might’ve missed its 2019 predecessor, Ne Zha. Luckily, filmmaker Jiaozi has prepared for such a scenario. He opens Ne Zha 2 with a short montage that outlines the film’s key characters and the lore. The two protagonists are Ne Zha, the human manifestation of the Demon Orb, and Ao Bing, the son of Dragon King Ao Guang and representative of the Spirit Pearl. The enemies-turned-friends had their bodies destroyed in the first film, leaving them as disembodied spirits. They are in the middle of having their bodies restored when Ao Guang, believing Ao Bing to be dead, orders an assault on the village where it happens. 

Ao Bing only has a few moments in his new body before it’s destroyed again. To keep Ao Bing’s soul from fading away, Ne Zha invites him to share his body for a limited time. In that time, they must travel to the immortal plane and complete a series of trials to become immortal. Because Ne Zha is a demon, he must take pills to suppress his demon nature and allow Ao Bing to take over his body. Their journey to becoming immortal and restoring their bodies is complicated by simmering tensions, unfortunate misunderstandings, and even double and triple crosses, threatening to destroy everything and everyone.

Ne Zha 2’s review

Even with the prologue and a synopsis, Ne Zha 2 can be a challenge if you’re unfamiliar with the original film. Jiaozi does his best to acclimate new audiences, but there are character dynamics, like Ao Guang’s relationships to his chained dragon siblings in their domain, that feel important but aren’t expounded upon. The same applies to the nuances of the film’s spiritual powers and hierarchies. On one hand, it is an example of rich, complex worldbuilding. On the other hand, it’s difficult to fully appreciate without proper context. 

What could’ve been a similar issue, but ultimately isn’t, is A24’s approach to dubbing the film. The English voices – Crystal Lee as Ne Zha, Aleks Le as Ao Bing, and Michelle Yeoh as Lady Yin – retain the narrative intent with lived-in, thoughtful interpretation. There are a few sync stutters in the beginning, but thanks to the film’s emphasis on high-flying action, it never distracts from the experience. (That said, it is a miss for A24 to not also acquire the original Mandarin language version of the film, and let audiences choose what version they prefer.)

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If you strip away those details, Ne Zha 2 is a straightforward MacGuffin-driven hero’s journey for roughly half its runtime. For audiences struggling with the plot, Jiaozi and his team of creatives fill the movie with plenty of silly comedy, colorful characters and creatures, and stunning action sequences to keep them engaged. One highlight is Taiyi, master to Ne Zha and Ao Bing and owner of a delightful flying pig. He is responsible for much of the film’s comic relief, sharing charming similarities to the Disney Renaissance’s most engaging hero sidekicks. There are also sight gags and jokes that Disney wouldn’t touch with a 50-foot pole, like Ne Zha accidentally peeing into an elixir basin because he thought it was a toilet, and palace guests accidentally drinking it. 

All the fight sequences are highly kinetic and fluid set pieces, designed to be dizzying and dazzling in equal measure, without ever being boring or alienating. Ao Bing (as Ne Zha) and Shen Zhengdao’s battle during the second trial is the standout centerpiece of the first half, zipping through air and water at a rapid clip, while retaining physical impact, extraordinary scale, and genuine narrative stakes. Had the film stayed at this level, it would’ve been a significant achievement in animated and overall storytelling.

But then the third act arrives.

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When Ne Zha 2 kicks off its big climactic set piece, it’s more than a staggering animated achievement. The film’s third act is one of the best you’ll experience on-screen this year, animated or otherwise. The previous battles were already impressive in their scale, but the final battle is overwhelming, pushing the limits of every cinematic craft. Appropriate for a world-threatening fight between angels and demons, Jiaozi fills his frames with stunningly detailed landscapes and structures that will take your breath away, the most impressive being Wuliang’s gigantic cauldron prison. The breathless scope isn’t limited to locations and battle stages, either. The fights are equally excessive and exhilarating, with soldiers forming bonsai trees and combatants fashioning super-sized weapons out of the elements. It all comes together to create a profound, astute representation of how powerful beings can be corrupted by their instincts towards self-preservation. 

Is Ne Zha 2 worth watching?

(L-R) Lady Yin, Ne ZhaCredit: Courtesy of A24.

Ne Zha 2 is a jaw-shattering spectacle that pushes the boundaries of what animated films can achieve at scale. Whatever their motivations for picking up its domestic distribution rights, A24’s backing will hopefully bring this film to a wider audience and captivate them with the force of its gorgeous, intricate imagery. If anything, the box office of Ne Zha 2 may not even be a novelty in the short term. Its imminent sequel feels destined to exceed its record-breaking numbers, and perhaps even put “king of the world” James Cameron and Avatar on notice. 

Ne Zha 2 releases in theaters on August 22, 2025.

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