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Khaleej Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Chinese film 'Ne Zha 2' is a lesson in resilience and beautiful animation
There's just something about an underdog story that works. It'll always begin in cringe fashion, of course, seeing someone being bullied by the world. But seeing them rise above the criticism, finding that kernel of truth that steadies them and lets them take on the naysayers and win, that is worth the wait. Like in Ne Zha 2, a sequel to the 2019 movie Ne Zha that has been in the making for many years. In this chapter, demon orb reincarnate Nezha and his best friend, Ao Bing (spirit orb incarnate) are suffering the effects of their previous battle and trying to rebuild their bodies using the power of the sacred lotus. Of course, things go wrong and now Nezha 2.0 (Nezha's body, shared by his and Ao Bing's spirit) must embark on a mission to retrieve a potion that will give the spell a second chance. They have a seven-day deadline in which to win this drink. While they are away – and undergoing their own trials to get this potion – their home, Chengtang Pass, is being held hostage by Ao Bing's father. Who also happens to be the jailor of a purgatory holding three vicious dragons dying (and scheming) to get out. And, of course, there's an ancient evil that no one saw coming who will make its presence known. In true Shonen-style storytelling – think Naruto, Ichigo in Bleach – there's plenty of fighting, comic storytelling, and themes of friendship that overcomes all odds. Oh, and self-improvement; epigenetics always wins in this scenario. Ne Zha has been brought up with love, affection, and parents who believe in being morally right. So, no matter the obstacle he faces and what his knee-jerk reaction is as the demon orb (kill everyone), he will overcome his own baser instincts and be victorious. The movie is based on the ancient Chinese book The Investiture of the Gods, and has been animated in stunning style over a period of five years, according to the Shenzhen Government Online, by more than 4,000 dedicated animators who worked on 1,948 special effects shots. Some 138 Chinese animation companies worked on the project, and it shows. Even during the most terrifying of moments on the big screen, you can't ignore the beauty of the illustrations. There's also a moment of transformation, when Nezha absorbs a tonne of power – leading to a Dragon Ball Guku-like transformation, complete with long, floating hair. Be warned though, while there is some slapstick comedy and some heart-rending moments, there are also some instances of scatological humour – if you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to be prepared with a paper bag (you know, just in case). All-in-all though, the tale of grit and the power of family (and logic) is not just entertaining, it also asks you how you want to live your life and pushes the idea that while it may be tough to be true to yourself, it is the only way to be.
Man of Many
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
What are the Highest-Grossing Movies of 2025 (So Far)?
Chinese animated movie Ne Zha 2 is the highest grossing movie of 2025 so far, bringing in USD$1.9 billion since it launched in January. since it launched in January. Other than Sinners, the rest of the films on the list are big-budget continuations of franchises, remakes, or part of a well-established IP. Collectively, the top ten films of the year so far have made USD$6,702,339,487 so far. We're about halfway through the year, and some of 2025's biggest movies have already dropped. While there's still a bunch of fantastic flicks to come in the second half, we want to take a look at what people are watching so far, and take stock of the big winners of 2025 so far. The results are simultaneously surprising and exactly as you'd expect: big franchises and well-known IP largely crowd the top 10, but with a few new ideas sprinkled throughout. All following data comes from IMDb's Box Office Mojo, and is up to date at the time of publishing—though we'll definitely update the rankings as things change. We don't want to waste any more of your time, so here are the 10 highest grossing movies of 2025 so far. 1. Ne Zha 2 Release Date: January 29, 2025 Budget: USD$80,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$20,858,156 International Earnings: USD$1,878,905,722 Worldwide Earnings: USD$1,899,763,878 IMDb Rating: 8.1 Simultaneously the cheapest film to produce on this list, as well as the most profitable, Ne Zha 2 is one of the biggest movies you've likely never heard of. While it had a paltry showing in most countries around the world, the movie absolutely killed in China—which makes sense: it's made in China, for Chinese audiences, and is based on a famous Chinese novel. In the six-ish months since release, the film has gone on to break basically every record it can, and is now listed as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, beating out fan favourites like Inside Out 2, The Lion King (the new one), Frozen 2, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film follows the titular Ne Zha, and his frenemy Ao Bing, after the conclusion of the original film. Both have lost their bodies after absorbing the destructive heavenly lightning that was fated to obliterate Ne Zha, and after more sacrifices are forced to share a single body for seven days until the pair can complete a set of trials that will return them to individuality. Things are never so simple, of course, and the pair once again get dragged into a fight to save the world. 2. Lilo & Stitch Release Date: May 21, 2025 Budget: USD$100,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$408,520,147 International Earnings: USD$565,790,620 Worldwide Earnings: USD$974,310,767 IMDb Rating: 6.9 If you're wondering why Disney keeps remaking their classic animated films into quasi-live-action abominations, it's because they're making bank doing it. After a bit more than a month in cinemas, the remade Lilo & Stitch has made back its budget nine times over. I mean, it's no Ne Zha 2, but few things are. The movie follows the same basic premise as the 2002 original: Stitch escapes the clutches of The Intergalactic Federation after being sentenced to exile. He crash lands on Hawaiian island Kaua'i and is taken in by a little girl, Lilo, and her older sister Nani. Unfortunately for all involved, the Federation has sent Stitch's creator Dr. Jumba Jookiba and agent Pleakley to track the missing creature down, and all hell breaks loose. It's a nice little story about found family, and was successful enough (again) that a sequel is already being worked on, so look forward to more Lilo & Stitch in your future. 3. A Minecraft Movie Release Date: April 4, 2025 Budget: USD$150,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$423,949,195 International Earnings: USD$530,979,507 Worldwide Earnings: USD$954,928,702 IMDb Rating: 5.7 A movie that by all accounts was pretty bad, A Minecraft Movie still managed to do incredibly well at the cinemas—though some part of that is likely due to the fact it managed to become part of a TikTok trend where people collectively lost their shit at Jack Black's 'chicken jockey' exclamation: throwing popcorn, setting off fire extinguishers, throwing smoke bombs, screaming into the Nether, and even unleashing real-world chickens into the theatre – all filmed for viral attention. While the filmmakers didn't see much issue with the trend (of course not, it was getting people into the cinema to watch their film), theatre-owners, locals, and police tended to think differently, and some of these outbursts led to people being seriously injured. No movie is worth hurting other people, especially one as average as this. Still, we'll be seeing Another Minecraft Movie soon enough, as a sequel is reportedly in early production. 4. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Release Date: May 21, 2025 Budget: USD$400,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$191,180,943 International Earnings: USD$385,000,000 Worldwide Earnings: USD$576,180,943 IMDb Rating: 7.4 While a solid movie overall, the latest entry in the storied Mission: Impossible franchise faced an uphill battle from the beginning due to the absolutely astronomical budget. The Final Reckoning cost approximately USD$400 million to make, which puts it firmly in the list of 'the most expensive films to make of all time' at a time where great movies are struggling at the box office. While the movie did make back its budget, it didn't earn a sizeable profit on top of that, which is likely to be viewed by Paramount as a bit of a fail. That's not to say it's a bad movie—we liked it quite a bit, in fact—but money talks. If you don't particularly care about the money side of the equation, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a banger of an action movie, and does bring quite a bit full circle for Ethan Hunt's story, dating all the way back to the 1996 original. 5. How to Train your Dragon Release Date: June 9, 2025 Budget: USD$150,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$224,249,380 International Earnings: USD$294,916,000 Worldwide Earnings: USD$519,165,380 IMDb Rating: 8.1 Another live-action remake? You bet – but this one is actually pretty good! When Hiccup Haddock III spares the life of a young dragon (a big no no in his dragon-hating Viking culture), he befriends the beast and names him Toothless. The pair set about ending the war between Viking and Dragon after learning that there is an alpha dragon, the Red Death, forcing the two cultures into clashing. While it's tempting to write off every modern remake of a childhood favourite, How to Train your Dragon manages to recapture some of the magic of the 2010 original, though also doesn't innovate in any real way. If you've seen the original, you'll know exactly what you're getting here: a coming of age story, mixing with a fantastical tale of acceptance. Plus, dragons. 6. Captain America: Brave New World Release Date: February 14, 2025 Budget: USD$180,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$200,500,001 International Earnings: USD$214,601,576 Worldwide Earnings: USD$415,101,577 IMDb Rating: 5.7 Another one for the pile of aggressively average Marvel movies, Captain America: Brave New World unfortunately squandered a pretty interesting idea: what happens if theres another Hulk, and another Captain America—both without the years of mental and physical training it takes to hold either of those titles. Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson doesn't have the super powers of the original – instead, he's just a guy with a suit, a shield, and some wings. U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford, hasn't spent years learning to control the innate strength and anger afforded to those blasted with Gamma radiation and who can turn into a Hulk. In fact (spoilers), he doesn't even know he's being infused with radiation—it's all part of some strange revenge scheme. Anyway, Brave New World doesn't really set up the next phase of Marvels Cinematic Universe with any particularly interesting or lingering questions. Rather, it's a vehicle to get to the point where Marvel can make another Avengers movie, and it does that just fine. 7. Thunderbolts* Release Date: May 2, 2025 Budget: USD$180,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$189,909,286 International Earnings: USD$192,088,083 Worldwide Earnings: USD$381,997,369 IMDb Rating: 7.4 Speaking of Avengers movies, Marvel actually managed to do something pretty interesting with Thunderbolts* in that it's technically titled Thunderbolts* The New Avengers. The big M left that part out of the marketing, which was probably a good choice. Driven on by some A24-style trailers, Thunderbolts* is widely regarded as one of the better Marvel movies in recent years – bringing a fresh, uncharacteristically brave take on the MCU. Rather than follow yet more superheroes doing good, Thunderbolts* follows a group of lesser known, more deranged members of Marvel's roster, and is better for it. Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova is a stand out, as is Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier. Despite being a solid outing, the film is still considered to be a bit of a flop off its USD$180 million budget. Making USD$200m just ain't enough these days. 8. Sinners Release Date: April 18, 2025 Budget: USD$90,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$278,387,623 International Earnings: USD$86,500,000 Worldwide Earnings: USD$364,887,623 IMDb Rating: 7.7 How do you make a fresh and interesting take on the United States' history of suppression and repression of Black Americans? Add vampires and occult blues music, obviously. Director Ryan Coogler comes out swinging with Sinners, a story centred on the Smokestack twins, Elijah and Elias (both played by the very talented Michael B. Jordan), who return to their home town to provide a place for the Black community to have a safe place—a converted sawmill, turned into a music hall. Unfortunately, it seems rock music is actually evil after all, and the joint's blues guitarist accidentally summons a gang of fledgling vampires. A tense stand off begins, with vampires unable to enter without permission, but those inside trapped within the walls of the sawmill. It's Tarantino-meets-Peele in the best way, and further cements Coogler as one of the most exciting directors working today. 9. Jurassic World: Rebirth Release Date: July 2, 2025 Budget: USD$180,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$147,820,695 International Earnings: USD$174,794,000 Worldwide Earnings: USD$322,614,695 IMDb Rating: 6.3 We've pretty much seen it all in the Jurassic Park-World universe at this point, right? Dinosaurs on an island, corporate greed, dinosaurs on the mainland, war profiteering, wild and domesticated dinosaurs, and, now, genetically-mutated dinosaurs. It just can't get any worse for the people that live in this franchise, can it? At the end of Jurassic World Dominion, revived dinosaurs have escaped any form of captivity and are beginning a new existence as free-range apex predators. Well, the makers of Rebirth released this had all but ensured the eradication of human civilisation, and so added in a clause that the newly freed dinos could only survive along the equator, where climate conditions are close enough to the Mesozoic period to allow them to thrive. This allows people to live on either side of the equator without much fear of death by raptor, but also splits the world by a nice big no-fly-zone. It's a really interesting idea that the movie does nothing with, instead focusing on a group of mercenaries protecting a paleontologist as he attempts to retrieve samples from dinosaur eggs which will be key to a new treatment for heart disease. Along the way, the group encounter dinos that were mutated for financial gain and are now far more deadly – as if they needed more advantages. If you're after a thrill ride, Rebirth is absolutely going to deliver – it just doesn't do a lot to change the formula or add to what we already know about this dino-infested world. 10. F1: The Movie Release Date: June 25, 2025 Budget: USD$200,000,000 Domestic Earnings: USD$109,288,553 International Earnings: USD$184,100,000 Worldwide Earnings: USD$293,388,553 IMDb Rating: 7.9 Perhaps the biggest surprise of 2025 is the fact that Apple's F1: The Movie actually turned out to be pretty good – taking everything director Joseph Kosinski learned making Top Gun: Maverick to bear on the race track, and delivering us in the audience a legitimate spectacle. Whether you're one of the people more-recently drawn into the F1 sport by the success of Drive to Survive, or are a bolted-on die-hard, the film will deliver on the highs, lows, twists, and turns that you're expecting. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, an aging former racer who takes up a gig at APXGP – a fading F1 team struggling to get any grip on the grid. While he brings experience to the pit, his much younger teammate, Damson Idris' Joshua Pearce, isn't so keen on doing things Hayes' way. What follows is a fairly rote story of learning to work together for the benefit of the team, yadda yadda – but be honest, we're all here for the racing, right? Thankfully, this is where F1: The Movie shines. Filmed on track at famous races like Silverstone, Monza, Las Vegas and Sazuka, and produced by Sir Lewis Hamilton, the film delivers as authentic an experience as you can without literally putting you in the cockpit. What's the Highest-Grossing Movie of 2025? So far, that'd be Ne Zha 2, which made a massive USD$1.9 billion off a budget of just USD$80 million. Since it launched in January, it's gone on to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Who's the Highest-Paid Actor in Hollywood? Scarlett Johansson recently overtook former-Avengers-teammate Robert Downey Jr. to become the highest paid actor in Hollywood, after Jurassic World: Rebirth catapulted her past Iron Man himself. What Big Movies are Left in 2025? While we're halfway through the year, we're still looking forward to The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25), The Naked Gun (August 1), Weapons (August 8), Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (September 12), Him (September 19), Frankenstein (November), Predators (November 7), Wicked: For Good (November 21), and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12). Will any of them top Ne Zha 2 at the top? Our money's on Wicked having the best chance, but you never know.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Setting the story of Nezha to music
Since its domestic debut on 29 January, Ne Zha 2 — loosely inspired by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture of the Gods) — has quickly shattered global box office records, becoming the fifth highest-grossing movie in global cinema history. Born to an unfair fate, Nezha is destined to die at the age of 3 as a result of a heavenly punishment caused by a curse. However, with the help of his close friend Ao Bing — the son of a dragon king who guards thousands of imprisoned monsters in the roaring sea — he bravely defies his doom. The movie's character theme song Ne Zha is also attracting a legion of fans. To best show the spirit of Nezha, the song's singer and songwriter Tang Hanxiao mixed the sounds of Chinese traditional instruments, especially that of suona (a traditional Chinese woodwind instrument). Watch this video to find out more.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Ne Zha 2' movie review: Breathtaking Chinese epic is a mythic reckoning of stupendous scale
In Ne Zha 2, the demon child is back, and this time, he's already eaten Pixar for breakfast. Chinese director Jiao Zi returns to his animated juggernaut with a sequel so overstuffed and committed to outdoing itself that it might as well have come with a motion sickness warning. That it also contains some of the most emotionally sincere storytelling this side of a Ghibli tearjerker makes it one of the year's strangest and most strangely moving cinematic experiences. Ne Zha 2 is now the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, and the biggest animated film ever globally, having knocked Inside Out 2 off its comfortable pedestal with the casual ease of a child-god smashing a mountain (which, incidentally, happens here). That kind of box office flex would be enough to earn Jiao Zi a seat at Mount Cameron, right next to the king of the world himself. But Jiao Zi clearly isn't just here to cash cheques. He's made something that feels mythic in every sense — a staggering cinematic achievement that swings for the heavens with the ferocity of a fire-wielding demi-god and the precision of a legendary storyteller. Ne Zha 2 (Mandarin) Director: Jiaozi Cast: Lü Yanting, Han Mo, Lu Qi, Zhang Jiaming, Wang Deshun, Zhuo Yongxi Runtime: 144 minutes Storyline: After the catastrophe, although the souls of Ne Zha and Ao Bing were saved, their bodies would soon be shattered. Taiyi Zhenren planned to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies For those uninitiated into the lore, the film does try to catch you up. The sacred Chaos Pearl split in two, the resurrection of two mythical boys from lotus paste, the city of Chentang Pass under siege, and an intergenerational celestial beef between dragons, demons and gods — all this is delivered in an early burst of exposition that feels like someone set Xu Zhonglin's Investiture of the Gods on fire and tried to tell you the plot before the smoke cleared. But even if the mythology occasionally overwhelms, the core is still crystal clear: a fierce, messy, stubborn devotion between Ne Zha, the demon child, and Ao Bing, his noble dragon counterpart. The crux of the story is simple enough: Ao Bing's soul is fading, and Ne Zha will tear heaven itself apart to save him, despite Ao Bing now occupying Ne Zha's body like a spectral roommate. What makes Ne Zha 2 so compelling, and frankly, so weird, is its high art/lowbrow tonal whiplash. The film careens between sequences of stunning, almost spiritual beauty and scenes where characters slurp down urine-infused tea with a surprising degree of finesse. But there's something exhilarating about the scale of the thing. Chengdu Coco Cartoon reportedly employed over 4,000 workers to produce the film, and their labour is etched into every shimmering water droplet rendered like liquid glass, and every theatre-shaking explosion of molten gold. When dragons burst from rips in the sky or armies clash mid-air, even an IMAX screen starts to feel like it's about to burst at the seams. The grand final act of a polychromatic war waged on a gargantuan floating cauldron is animated cinema at its most maximalist. And yet, Ne Zha 2 is also grounded by a surprising tenderness. Jiao Zi is smart enough to know that myth without heart is just noise, and so he threads little tearjerkers into the bombast, like a mother suffering a hundred needles to hug her son goodbye, and the world's greatest dragon dad breaking the cycle of burden for his son. Even the villains, like the disgraced immortal Shen Gongbao, are granted moments of grief and regret. These flashes of humanity amid the divine fireworks make the film resonate more deeply than it has any right to. But most importantly, Ne Zha 2's critique of Western imperialism feels incandescent. Beyond its on-the-nose symbolic imagery of its eagle-crested jade medallions and dollar-sign death furnaces, the film systematically dismantles the moral scaffolding of hegemonic power under the guise of celestial authority. Cloaked in the rhetoric of 'civilisation' and 'enlightenment,' the celestial Chan sect stands in for imperial powers that repackage subjugation as salvation. Their exploitation of dragons and demons under the banner of reform echoes a long history of colonial manipulation, offering elevation in exchange for obedience, and punishing resistance with obliteration. But what really elevates it beyond simple allegory is how it reclaims the demonic, vilified 'Other', as revolutionary, rather than as victim. Ne Zha's ultimate decision to embrace his identity rather than 'pass' into acceptability is a pointed rejection of assimilation into oppressive systems. Unlike the current wave of contrite, state-sponsored Western superheroes, or the glut of sad boys in capes stuck in a cycle of moral ambiguity, Ne Zha is simply furious, and his clarity is radical: oppression is evil, resistance is righteous. In this light, Ne Zha 2's blazing manifesto burns through its fantastical epic. Is it perfect? Not remotely. The pacing often stutters under the weight of its sprawling lore, and some subplots feel like filler. While the animation is frequently jaw-dropping, the frenetic editing can also leave you gasping for air. But then Ne Zha grabs a bamboo pole, leaps into the rain, and does battle midair with a sentient lightning bolt, and all is forgiven. The gloriously unhinged fever dream of Ne Zha 2 is where the sacred meets the slapstick, and somehow, it just works. But above all, it makes the case that animation, in the right hands, can do absolutely anything. Including knocking a few billion-dollar Hollywood franchises off their high horses, with time left over to kneecap a Marvel release at the box office. Ne Zha 2 is currently running in theatres
Scroll.in
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Ne Zha 2' review: A spectacular, dazzling feat of animation
In 2019, the animated fantasy adventure Ne Zha captivated China – and the world. Jiaozi's debut feature was one of China's biggest hits and one of the world's most successful non-English productions. The second part, released in China on January 29, has already surpassed its predecessor at the box office. Ne Zha 2 is out in India in its original Mandarin with English subtitles. The sequel is a thrilling, propulsive epic saga of filial duty, sacrifice and collaboration against a common enemy, presented through some of the most gobsmacking visuals ever seen in animated films. The franchise is loosely based on the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods. Ne Zha has already inspired a slew of Chinese productions, including the animated Nezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979). The first movie was the origin story of Ne Zha, who is the result of a divine boon. A celestial pearl is split into two elements, the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Orb, to contain its energies. According to a prophecy, the Spirit Pearl will be born as the child of the warrior Li Jing and his wife Yin. The Spirit Pearl's bumbling guardian Taiyi is tricked by the wizard Shen into a swap. The Spirit Pearl is born as the underwater Dragon King's son Ao Bing, while Li Jing and Yin find themselves as Ne Zha's parents. Ne Zha lives up to his demonic reputation. The boy with dark circles under his eyes and oversized teeth is despised in his kingdom, which only pushes him towards further havoc. Ne Zha's uncontrollable anger finds an outlet, and a higher purpose, when he meets Ao Bing. Ne Zha 2 is vastly more ambitious in every way – the number of events and characters, the scale, the backdrops, the visual effects. The sequel sees Ne Zha and Ao Bin teaming up against the Dragon King's wrath. Even as the Dragon King wages war on Ne Zha's kingdom, Ne Zha and Ao Bin journey to the heavenly abode of the Immortal sorcerer Wuilang to seek greater powers. Densely plotted and relentlessly paced, the 144-minute movie pauses only for potty jokes and silly humour. There is so much going on at times that it's hard to take everything in at one go. In the first film, the fantasy elements were grounded in relatable human characters. Ne Zha was every inch the stubborn, destructive and unreasonable last-born son endlessly running circles around his family, minders and Taiyi. In Ne Zha 2, Jiaozi dispenses with character building and pulls out all stops for a spectacular display of his virtuosity in the animation medium. The gorgeously detailed frames inspired from Chinese design and the hectic battle scenes rival, if not surpass, big-budget Hollywood productions. Several sequences linger in memory – Wuilang's jade palace that floats above the clouds, the Dragon King's underwater lair, the motifs of fire and water represented by Ne Zha and Ao Bing, the undulating swarms of rival armies in the extended climax. One of the most poignant scenes in an otherwise action-heavy film sees Ne Zha acknowledge his love for his mother. Jiaozi's ambition is staggering in its scope but eye-watering in other ways too. Play
