China's 'Ne Zha 2': First non-Hollywood film to hit $1B
What's the story
Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has broken a new record by becoming the first film to earn over $1 billion in a single market.
The film had earned an estimated 8 billion Chinese Yuan ($1.1 billion) in China alone as of Sunday, Maoyan estimates show.
This milestone now ranks Ne Zha 2 as the seventh highest-grossing animated film worldwide, marking a moment of national pride for China.
Future projections
'Ne Zha 2' projected to reach RMB 12B in China
Maoyan has updated its projection for Ne Zha 2's full run in China, now estimating a gross of 12 billion Chinese Yuan or Renminbi ($1.65 billion).
If the film hits this number, it will be the second-highest-grossing animated movie in the world and the 11th-highest-grossing film overall.
Notably, this projection doesn't account for earnings from markets outside China where Ne Zha 2 is slated to release this week.
IMAX success
'Ne Zha 2' sets new record for IMAX format
The sequel to Ne Zha (2019) is helmed by Yu Yang and produced by Enlight Media, Alibaba Pictures, and October Media Animation Studio.
It follows a young boy wielding magical powers as he battles demons.
The film has surpassed the record previously held by The Battle of Lake Changjin (2021), a Korean War-era propaganda film that grossed approximately $900 million.
Other successes
'Mufasa: The Lion King' and 'Paddington in Peru' achieve milestones
On its 11th day of release, Ne Zha 2 surpassed the $936 million milestone, breaking the decade-old record held by Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens for the highest earnings in a single country.
The film is also on track to potentially become the first ever to gross $100 million in a single day during its second weekend.
Notably, the film was released on January 12.