China’s box office continued its strong Lunar New Year momentum, with “Ne Zha 2” dominating the charts for the second consecutive week. The Enlight Pictures release grossed RMB1.92 billion ($267.1 million) during the Feb. 3–9 period, bringing its cumulative total to $1.11 billion, according to Artisan Gateway.
In the process, the animated sequel torched several records. It became the highest-grossing film in the country’s history, easily surpassing the previous record held by the 2021 war epic “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which earned $802 million, and speeding past previous holders “Wolf Warriors 2” (2017, $791 million) and 2021’s “Hi, Mom” that collected $752 million.
The record run also saw “Ne Zha 2” toppling the $936.7 million haul of “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” in North America, making it the biggest single-market box office champion of all time.
In second place, As One Production’s “Detective Chinatown 1900” added $38.1 million to its total, pushing its cumulative earnings to $388.6 million. The latest installment in the successful comedy-mystery franchise remains a strong performer.
Fantawild Animation’s “Boonie Bears: Future Reborn,” the latest in the family-friendly animated franchise. took third place with $9.8 million, reaching a total of $88.1 million.
Beijing Culture’s historical fantasy epic “Creation of the Gods 2” finished in fourth place, earning $7.8 million, bringing its cumulative total to $153.2 million.
Rounding out the top five, Bona Film Group’s naval action thriller “Operation Hadal” collected $4.5 million, pushing its total to $48.6 million.
The weekend’s total box office reached $330 million, while China’s 2025 cumulative total has now surged to $2.14 billion, marking a 418.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The remarkable growth underscores the strength of this year’s Lunar New Year slate, with tentpole releases proving highly effective in driving audiences back to cinemas.
With “Ne Zha 2” now surpassing the $1 billion mark and continued interest in holdover titles, China’s theatrical market remains on a solid trajectory as February progresses.
