Disney and Pixar’s 2024 animated sequelInside Out 2was one of the most beloved movies of last year. Following the success of the firstInside Out, it is unsurprising thatInside Out 2was a commercial and critical success. However, it far surpassed anyone’s expectations, asInside Out 2became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The movie picks Riley’s story back up after she has aged a few years and is dealing with new problems.Inside Out 2introduces new emotionsfor audiences to enjoy, and they work perfectly to reflect Riley’s growing maturity.
Inside Out 2was released at the perfect time to become a summer blockbusterand appeals to kids and adults alike. Overall, it is a wholesome, fun movie that has a great emotional message about growing up. While Disney has experienced consistent success with its animated films,Inside Out 2topped the yearly box office, making it the first animated film to do so sinceFrozenin 2013. Given this impressive accomplishment, it is completely unexpected thatInside Out 2’s records would have been toppled so soon, but just seven months later, there is a new highest-grossing animated film.
Ne Zha 2 Officially Beat Inside Out 2’s Box Office Total In Only 20 Days
The New Animated Sequel Has Been A Massive Hit
The sequel to the 2019 animated movieNe Zha,Ne Zha 2has officially beatenInside Out 2’s box office recordin just under three weeks.Ne Zha 2picks up whereNe Zhaleft off, with the characters Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s physical bodies having been destroyedby the lightning sent to destroy the Demon Orb. However, with help from Taiyi Zhenren, the two are saved and have to work together again to save their town and themselves from the evil forces plotting against them.
“Best Animation Quality China Has Ever Done”: Ne Zha 2’s Unprecedented $1.6B Box Office Success Explained By IMAX China CEO As It Arrives In US Theaters
Ne Zha 2’s unprecedented $1.6 billion box office success gets explained by IMAX China CEO Daniel Manwaring as the film is released in the US.
The movie’s exciting plot and great animation have already amassed plenty of praise, and it currently sits at a gross of $1.7 billion(viaThe Numbers). This total puts it slightly aboveInside Out 2,which has grossed just under $1.7 billion. While the movie’s precursor,Ne Zha,was moderately successful,Ne Zha 2has far exceeded any expectations about its performance. Additionally, given that the film has only been out for 20 days, it has the potential to continue growing as its reputation spreads further beyond China.
Ne Zha 2’s Box Office Is Completely Different From Inside Out 2
Ne Zha 2 Has Been Extremely Successful In China
One of the biggest differences betweenNe Zha 2andInside Out 2is where the majority of the films' audiences are.Inside Out 2was successful worldwide, with a solid percentage of its profits coming from the United States. Its precursor was incredibly well-known and loved across different markets, andInside Out’s availability on streaming means that new audiences were able to watch the first movie before the release ofInside Out 2.It makes complete sense thatInside Out 2surpassed the first movie and did well everywhere.
In contrast, according toReuters,99% ofNe Zha 2’s profits are from China. While the movie has opened in theaters in the United States,Ne Zha 2was primarily created for Chinese audiences. This approach also makes sense since the story, which is based on the Chinese bookInvestiture of the Gods, is likely to have more appeal with Chinese audiences who may be more familiar with the plot, characters, and the first film.
Why Ne Zha 2 Was Such A Bigger Hit At The Chinese Box Office Than Inside Out 2
Ne Zha 2 Was Made For Chinese Audiences
Ne Zha 2’s success at the Chinese box office is particularly impressive when considering thatInside Out 2made $47 million total in China. This total is only a fraction ofNe Zha 2’s box office earnings, proving thatInside Out 2simply did not mand as well in the Chinese market. While there is nothing wrong withInside Out 2’s gross in China per se, it was very clearly made with an American audience in mind. Likewise,Ne Zha 2was made with a Chinese audience in mind, leading to it being far more successful there.
Ne Zha 2is based on an important Chinese novel and continues a franchise that audiences care about, whereasInside Out 2may not have that same significance.
In essence, the movies were meant to be different and appeal to different audiences, and that has resulted in massive box office success forNe Zha 2.Ne Zha 2is based on an important Chinese novel and continues a franchise that audiences care about, whereasInside Out 2may not have that same significance. What’s more,Ne Zha 2’s release at the end of January coincided with the Lunar New Year, marking an important cultural date more generally.
Ne Zha 2 Beating Inside Out 2’s Box Office Shows The Limits Of Hollywood Movies In China
Hollywood Has Not Been Able To Tap Into The Chinese Market Very Well
While some Hollywood movies can do quite well in China, on the whole, Hollywood has not succeeded in the Chinese market as well as producers might hope. Given that China has a population of over 1.4 billion (compared to the US’s 334.9 million), there is a massive opportunity for success in the film industry if a movie finds the right audience there. This also helps explain why movies made specifically for Chinese people, likeNe Zha 2, do so well at the box office overall. However, this is not often the case for American movies.
With the absence of strong marketing pushes for American movies in China, Chinese-made movies likeNe Zha 2have been able to thrive on their own.
Hollywood did spend several years, in the 2010s particularly, trying to tap into China’s growing movie industry, but they never found the level of success that they were aiming for. Instead, the results dwindled, andmany American studios have largely given up on China being a lucrative market for Hollywood movies. With the absence of strong marketing pushes for American movies in China, Chinese-made movies likeNe Zha 2have been able to thrive on their own. However, givenNe Zha 2’s profits, it will be interesting to see how Hollywood studios react to the box office reports.
What Will Ne Zha 2’s Final Box Office Total Be Now?
Its Success Has Just Begun
After just three weeks,Ne Zha 2has already become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and certainly the highest-grossing movie of 2025 so far. Since the movie has only just expanded into the U.S. and other international markets, there is certainly plenty of time forNe Zha 2to become even more lucrative. While its current gross of $1.7 billion is already incredibly impressive,it seems likely that, given more time,Ne Zha 2will be able to surpass $2 billion easily.
“A Lot Of Life Left To Explore”: Inside Out 2 Co-Writer Addresses How Far Riley’s Story Could Go
EXCLUSIVE: Inside Out 2’s co-writer teases further entries in the franchise, while addressing how far the creative team could take Riley’s story.
With its current earnings,Ne Zha 2is currently positioned as the eighth highest-grossing movie of all time. Having surpassedInside Out 2, its other top 10 compatriots hail from the successful franchises of theMCU, Avatar,Jurassic World,andStar Wars, with the exception ofTitanic. IfNe Zha 2were to reach the $2 billion mark, it could even move up further on the list and even enter the top five if it went over $2.1 billion. WhileInside Out 2is undeniably great, it is very clear that there is now a new animated movie dominating the charts.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
Ne Zha 2
Ne Zha 2 continues the story of Ne Zha and Ao Bing as they struggle to preserve their souls and restore their physical forms using the Seven Colored Lotus. Guided by Tai Yi Zhen Ren, they face numerous challenges in their quest, shaping their destinies in unexpected ways.
