Latest news with #non-Hollywood
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Ne Zha 2,' World's Highest-Grossing Animated Film, Heads to European Theaters
Trinity CineAsia has secured theatrical distribution rights for 'Ne Zha 2' across 37 European territories, including the U.K., Ireland, Germany, France and Spain, from Beijing Enlight Media. The animated blockbuster, which has shattered box office records, will debut in the U.K. and Ireland on March 21, with previews beginning March 14. The Chinese animated epic has made history as the highest-grossing animated film worldwide, surpassing 'Inside Out 2,' and becoming the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart. It currently ranks sixth behind only 'Avatar,' 'Avatar: The Way of Water,' 'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' and 'Titanic.' The film has also achieved the unprecedented milestone of grossing $1 billion in a single market – China – where it was released on Jan. 29. It passed $2 billion in China over the weekend. More from Variety China Box Office: 'Ne Zha 2' Passes $2 Billion, Climbs to 6th in All-Time Imax Rankings China Box Office: 'Ne Zha 2' Nears $2 Billion as Imax Total Hits $144 Million 'Ne Zha 2' Review: Hit Chinese Animated Sequel Delivers in Jaw-Dropping Visual Spectacle, but Overflows With Lore 'Rarely do you get a film that truly defines the era, shows again the unique power of cinema to move audiences, and makes an indelible mark on culture. This is 'Ne Zha 2,'' said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia. 'It signifies a major turning point in further establishing Trinity CineAsia as a pan-European distributor.' 'After years spent cultivating the audience and building relationships with exhibitors, press and other stakeholders, as well as our online presence, it is a landmark for Trinity CineAsia in terms of reaching the far corners of the continent and developing our offering to a far larger audience. We look forward to more adventures in this realm,' Behrel added. The film follows Ne Zha, a demon child raised by humans, who must embark on a perilous quest to obtain an elixir to restore the body of his uneasy ally, the dragon prince Ao Bing. During this journey, Ne Zha uncovers a conspiracy threatening to ignite a war between good and evil. Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology but offering a bold reinterpretation, 'Ne Zha 2' represents a technical marvel in animation. The film was crafted over five years by a team of 4,000 animators and features nearly 2,000 visual effects shots. One battle sequence reportedly involved 200 million individually animated characters – an approach rarely implemented at this scale. Beyond its technical achievements, director Jiao Zi's sequel builds upon the themes of its predecessor. While the first film centered on defying fate, 'Ne Zha 2' challenges institutions and the status quo, exploring the concept that good and evil are not determined by race or origin. Trinity CineAsia has established itself as a premium distributor for martial arts and Asian action cinema in the U.K. market. Its recent releases include 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' (Hong Kong's submission to the 2025 Oscars), 'Black Dog' (which won at Cannes Un Certain Regard), and 'The Goldfinger,' which reunited 'Infernal Affairs' stars Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Sharjah 24
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Filmmakers discuss balancing creative vision at Xposure
Titled 'Balancing Art and Commerce in Direction, the session featured panelists Glenn Gainor, Franklin Leonard, Neel Kumar, and Danielle Arden, and moderated by film creative Bjoern Lauen, who shed light on the financial realities of filmmaking and the evolving global landscape of storytelling. Gainor is a veteran producer with decades of studio experience at places like Amazon MGM and Sony Pictures. Leonard is a writer and founder of Black List, an online platform dedicated to identifying screen-adaptable content; Arden is a theatre writer and actor-turned-filmmaker; while Kumar is a filmmaker, writer and storyteller with acclaimed short films under his belt. 'Film requires a significant amount more capital to execute than most other art forms,' said Leonard. 'The first question any filmmaker should ask is: 'Is this a story best told in this medium?' Because if it's better suited as a novel or a podcast, those options are far less capital-intensive.' Kumar shared his own journey raising funds for his first feature film. 'I knocked on 72 doors before I found someone willing to put in half the budget if I could match it. That process changed how I approached filmmaking. Now, I see it as my responsibility as a writer-director-producer to make my films commercially viable.' Gainor recounted a striking experience at a major studio. 'I once had a project where the director's vision and the studio president's expectations for the budget were worlds apart. It was my job to figure out, which movie are we making? There was a $20 million difference between the two pitches. Filmmakers need to understand that balancing budgets and creative ambition is part of the job.' Leonard highlighted the need for filmmakers to develop leadership skills alongside artistic ones. 'At the end of the day, filmmaking is a collaborative medium. You're not just an artist: you're a leader, managing people's time, money, and trust,' he explained. Craft, storytelling and global film markets The panel also examined the changing landscape of global cinema and the rising prominence of non-Hollywood narratives. 'Hollywood has long acted like it's the centre of the film world, but in reality, it's just local content about America,' said Leonard. 'Now, audiences have access to everything: Korean dramas, Arabic cinema, Bollywood films. What matters is not where a story comes from, but whether it resonates universally.' On advice for emerging filmmakers, Leonard offered a simple but profound takeaway. 'If your script is so compelling that it makes someone rush to tell every person they know about it, then you're on the right track.' Arden, speaking from a regional perspective, noted that the Middle East is at a turning point. 'More than ever, we're seeing interest in stories from this region, not just from local filmmakers but also expats who call this place home. The industry is shifting, and the world is starting to pay attention to what's coming out of the Middle East.' Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) Xposure 2025 is taking place in Aljada, Sharjah until February 26. To plan your visit, see
South China Morning Post
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
At last, Chinese folklore adds new flavour to global pop culture
Published: 9:30am, 18 Feb 2025 Updated: 10:34am, 18 Feb 2025 As Chinese mythology explodes on the world stage, it is poised to redefine the global entertainment market. From this year's animated film Nezha 2 becoming the first non-Hollywood production to rake in US$1 billion at the box office, to Black Myth: Wukong ' s cross-cultural appeal in the gaming world, centuries-old stories are captivating audiences like never before. This surge in popularity reflects both a growing hunger for diverse narratives and a fascination with cultures beyond the traditional Western canon. Nezha 2 is more than a domestic success. Tickets for shows in North American cities such as Toronto quickly sold out. Many cinemas in Los Angeles and New York added midnight screenings to meet demand, according to That's Shanghai. International media and audiences have lauded the film, with critics praising its stunning animation, compelling storytelling and impressive visual effects. This remarkable achievement underscores the global appeal of Chinese stories and the growing power of Chinese cinema on the world stage. The cultural explosion is more than just a trend – it's a global renaissance bringing centuries of Chinese storytelling into the international stage. One reviewer called the energy surrounding Nezha 2 a 'turning point', after which Chinese animation will increasingly flourish in the country's domestic market. The overwhelmingly positive global reception is part of a larger trend. It proves the universal appeal of inspiring storytelling, combined with China's expanding cultural footprint and booming creative industries. These stories, passed down through centuries, explore fundamental human experiences – love, loss, ambition and redemption – woven into fantastical settings that ignite imaginations worldwide.
South China Morning Post
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How Chinese mythology and folklore are captivating the world
As Chinese mythology explodes on the world stage, it is poised to redefine the global entertainment market. From this year's animated film Nezha 2 becoming the first non-Hollywood production to rake in US$1 billion at the box office, to Black Myth: Wukong ' s cross-cultural appeal in the gaming world, centuries-old stories are captivating audiences like never before. This surge in popularity reflects both a growing hunger for diverse narratives and a fascination with cultures beyond the traditional Western canon. Nezha 2 is more than a domestic success. Tickets for shows in North American cities such as Toronto quickly sold out. Many cinemas in Los Angeles and New York added midnight screenings to meet demand, according to That's Shanghai. International media and audiences have lauded the film, with critics praising its stunning animation, compelling storytelling and impressive visual effects. This remarkable achievement underscores the global appeal of Chinese stories and the growing power of Chinese cinema on the world stage. The cultural explosion is more than just a trend – it's a global renaissance bringing centuries of Chinese storytelling into the international stage. One reviewer called the energy surrounding Nezha 2 a 'turning point', after which Chinese animation will increasingly flourish in the country's domestic market. The overwhelmingly positive global reception is part of a larger trend. It proves the universal appeal of inspiring storytelling, combined with China's expanding cultural footprint and booming creative industries. These stories, passed down through centuries, explore fundamental human experiences – love, loss, ambition and redemption – woven into fantastical settings that ignite imaginations worldwide.
CNN
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
China's animated blockbuster smashed box office records at home. Now it's hitting Western cinemas
An unruly Chinese boy who battles dragons and defies destiny has made his way to Western cinema screens after smashing box office records in China. 'Ne Zha 2,' an animated blockbuster loosely based on Chinese mythology, is now the world's highest-grossing movie of all time in a single market, racking up a staggering $1.4 billion in ticket sales in China since its January 29 release. It dwarfs the previous record held by 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' which netted $936 million in the United States and Canada in 2015. The Chinese production is also the first non-Hollywood film to break into the all-time global top 20 of highest-grossing films. The phenomenal success of 'Ne Zha 2' – a rare bright spot in China's otherwise sluggish box office amid a struggling economy – has sparked a wave of national pride and jubilation, with audiences, state media and officials rushing to celebrate the landmark achievement. For decades, China's movie market had been dominated by Hollywood blockbusters. But in recent years, homegrown titles – in genres from action and sci-fi to romance and animation – have increasingly outpaced Western films, a pivot fueled by rising cultural pride, more sophisticated storytelling and rapid technological progress. And as censorship tightens and geopolitical tensions with the United States flare, it's become all the more difficult for Hollywood to navigate political landmines in the once-lucrative market. China's domestic film industry has pounced on the opportunity. Animation rooted in traditional Chinese folklore, enhanced with state-of-the-art special effects, has proven to be a winning formula. For a new generation of Chinese filmmakers and audiences, the reasoning is clear: If China's own talent can deliver high-quality adaptions of the legends they grew up with, why rely on Western studios to tell Chinese stories? Following its record-breaking run in China, 'Ne Zha 2' has headed overseas, with wide releases in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday and North America on Friday. It became an instant hit among the Chinese diaspora – many rushed to snap up presale tickets days in advance and lined up for its premieres. 'Even those who weren't previously interested in anime, like me, are drawn to this movie because of the enthusiasm and the glowing word of mouth in China,' said Summer Wang, a data analyst who attended the film's premiere in Los Angeles. Stephanie Zhan, 30, a jewelry sales manager in Sydney, spent an hour getting to a cinema in a severe thunderstorm to watch 'Ne Zha 2.' The audience, mostly of Chinese descent, erupted in applause at the end of the screening, she said. 'It had a complete story arc with nuanced emotions, funny moments and the fight scenes were spectacular – on par with the epic battles in something like 'The Avengers.' It was truly impressive,' she said. 'I feel hopeful about domestic films now.' The sequel to a 2019 box office champion, all the stars aligned for 'Ne Zha 2' to become a smash hit. The film faced few serious competitors upon its release at the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, a peak cinema-going time for the whole family in China. Drawing on a 16th-century novel, the film features characters familiar to Chinese audiences of all ages. But it also offers fresh takes that resonate with the young generation, said Xiaoning Lu, an expert on Chinese cinema at SOAS University of London. 'It's a very successful commercial film. On one hand, it's got advanced animation technology, and on the other, it excels in storytelling. It's family-friendly, fun to watch with a touch of rebellious spirit,' Lu said. 'In fact, it's a mixture of different formulas that came together and worked.' Born with a demonic fate and extraordinary powers, the protagonist, Ne Zha, is 'ugly cute' and mischievous, unafraid to challenge heavenly authority and confront the gods who have manipulated power to suit their own ends. 'The messages it conveys resonate with different audiences and reflect many of the challenges of our times, such as challenging the established structure, institution and authority; themes of family love and friendship; distrust of the system and authority; and identity confusion,' said Sabrina Qiong Yu, a film and Chinese studies professor at Newcastle University. 'It's like 'chicken soup for the soul' or a shot of excitement in the gloomy atmosphere of the era.' The film also invites open interpretation, with some nationalist viewers excited to spot 'Easter eggs' they interpret as political metaphors mocking America — such as objects resembling US dollar signs, the Great Seal of the United States, the Pentagon and the coronavirus. Yu, who watched the movie in China, said she heard many audience members discussing these nationalist elements. 'While I didn't feel this strongly when watching the film, I do think it might have contributed to its box office success,' she said. Many recent Chinese blockbusters have capitalized on rising nationalist sentiment, achieving massive success. 'The Battle at Lake Changjin,' a 2021 government-commissioned war flick, was previously China's top-grossing title after taking the top spot from 2017 patriotic action movie 'Wolf Warrior 2.' As it shattered box office records, 'Ne Zha 2' quickly emerged as a triumph of China's animation and film industries. The movie was made entirely in China, involving 138 animation companies and more than 4,000 crew, according to its end credits. Its director Yang Yu, a medical major turned animation filmmaker, told state broadcaster CCTV that he initially approached international production teams for some key scenes, but the results fell short of expectations. 'Sure, they might be a top-tier studio, but they could be using third-rate staff on our project. So, after outsourcing, many of the shots didn't turn out as we wanted, and we ended up bringing them back,' he said. Yang conceded that Chinese studios are still playing catch-up with top foreign counterparts in technologies and industrial processes, though the gap is closing. China's animation industry has come a long way. In a market where generations of audiences grew up watching movies from Hollywood's Disney and Pixar and Japan's Studio Ghibli, a growing number of domestic animations have broken through in recent years, especially those championing traditional culture. It's a similar story in other entertainment sectors. Last year, 'Black Myth: Wukong,' a Chinese video game based on classical 16th-century novel 'Journey to the West' and featuring cutting-edge graphics, became an international bestseller. As 'Ne Zha 2' box office receipts surpassed Hollywood classics one after another, Chinese moviegoers rallied to support the film and push its ticket sales to new heights. On Chinese social media, users called on each other to hit the cinema – and even watch it multiple times. A trending hashtag on microblogging site Weibo compared the film's rise through global box office ranks to 'raising the national flag.' On Thursday night, the film hit a landmark 100 billion yuan ($13.7 billion) in ticket sales, overtaking 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' to become the third-highest-grossing animated film ever, just behind 'Frozen 2.' State media and Chinese officials have piled praise on 'Ne Zha 2,' hailing it as a prime example of China's growing 'cultural confidence.' China's ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, promoted the movie in multiple posts on X and in speeches. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, called the film 'a new bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the world and a new window on China for the world.' However, 'Ne Zha 2' faces a major challenge in gaining a strong foothold in overseas markets, where it will compete with the newly released 'Captain America: Brave New World.' And beyond the Chinese diaspora, it may struggle to connect with a broader international audience, viewers and experts say. 'I do not see it having the same potential to transcend cultural boundaries and achieve significant box office success overseas as 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' did at the start of this century,' said Yu, from Newcastle University. 'But I could be wrong. Good luck to its overseas release.' CNN's Joyce Jiang contributed to reporting.
