The recent awards season saw “Kpop Demon Hunters” secure a significant secure a significant victory, following its Best Animated Feature win at the Critics' Choice Awards by clinching the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the animation category. This outcome was widely anticipated, with the film outperforming other strong nominees including Arco, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2.

However, a notable absence from the Golden Globe nominations was "Ne Zha 2," a title that has made cinematic history by breaking multiple box office records. Despite being overlooked by the ceremony, the film has continued to gain momentum, recently re-entering the HBO Max Top ten in the U.S. This streaming success contrasts sharply with its initial underwhelming theatrical performance in the U.S., particularly when compared to its overwhelming dominance at the box office in nearly every other global market.

Breaking Records: The Highest Animated Movie Of All Time

Financially, "Ne Zha 2" has been an undisputed juggernaut, earning more than $2 billion worldwide. Of this total, approximately $1.97 billion came from international markets, underscoring the film’s broad global appeal. Beyond breaking records, the film has become the highest animated movie of all time, topped the fantasy genre, secured a place among the top five highest-grossing action films ever, highlighting its unprecedented cross-genre impact.

A Mystical Sequel With High Stakes

The plot for this financial and critical success reads: "After the heavenly lightning, although Ne Zha and Ao Bing survived by becoming Spirits, though they are destined to eventually dissipate. Taiyi plans to reconstruct their mortal bodies using the Seven-colored Precious Lotus but the process proves far from simple as numerous obstacles emerges. “The question remains: What will become the ultimately fate of Ne Zha and Ao Bing?"

Critical Acclaim Matches Box Office Dominance

Beyond its box office dominance, "Ne Zha 2" has also earned significant critical acclaim. The film holds an impressive 91% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a near-perfect 98% audience rating. The critical consensus described it as "visually spectacular, with a hyperactive sense of humor,” praising the sequel for enhancing the original's charms while remaining accessible to new viewers." Jeff Ewing of Collider further applauded the film, calling it as "a bold, action-packed, interesting celebration of Chinese legend, centered around the story of a growing boy who wants to shape his future."

Creative Team and Lasting Impact

With a runtime of 144 minutes, Ne Zha 2 was directed by Yang Yu, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Zhonglin Xu and Xixing Lu. The film was produced by Wenzhang Liu and features voice performances by Lü Yanting as Young Nezha and Joseph as Youth Nezha/Jie Jie Shou Zuo. Its enduring popularity is evident not only in its record-breaking sales but also in its continued presence on streaming platforms, making it one of the ten most-streamed movies on HBO Max.