‘Ne Zha 2,’ World’s Highest-Grossing Animated Film, Heads to European Theaters

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As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve got some exciting news! Trinity CineAsia has managed to secure the rights for the theatrical release of “Ne Zha 2” in an impressive 37 European countries, including the U.K., Ireland, Germany, France, and Spain. This highly anticipated animated movie, which has already smashed box office records, is set to premiere in the U.K. and Ireland on March 21, with previews starting a week earlier on March 14. Can’t wait to grab my popcorn and catch it on the big screen!

The Chinese animated masterpiece broke records by becoming the highest-earning animated film globally, outperforming “Inside Out 2” and marking the first non-Hollywood production to enter the global top 10 all-time box office chart. At present, it stands at the sixth spot, trailing only behind “Avatar,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and “Titanic.” Remarkably, this movie has earned over $1 billion in a single market, China, where it debuted on January 29th. Over the weekend, it surpassed the $2 billion mark in China.

Cedric Behrel, the managing director of Trinity CineAsia, seldom finds a movie that encapsulates an era, stirs emotions profoundly, and leaves an enduring impact on society. In his opinion, ‘Ne Zha 2’ is one such film. This choice indicates a significant milestone in strengthening Trinity CineAsia’s position as a pan-European distributor.

After dedicating years to growing our audience, strengthening ties with exhibitors, media, and other key partners, and enhancing our online presence, Trinity CineAsia has achieved a significant milestone by reaching the farthest regions of the continent and expanding our services to a much broader audience. We eagerly anticipate more exciting journeys in this domain,” Behrel concluded.

The movie chronicles Ne Zha, a child born as a demon but brought up by humans, who is compelled to undertake a dangerous mission to acquire an elixir to heal the wounded dragon prince Ao Bing. Along this journey, Ne Zha unearths a plot that could spark a war between the forces of good and evil.

Based on Chinese mythology from the 16th century but with a fresh twist, the movie “Ne Zha 2” showcases incredible innovation in animation. Over a span of five years, a workforce of 4,000 animators painstakingly brought it to life, incorporating close to 2,000 visual effects shots. In one action scene alone, an impressive 200 million characters were individually animated – a method seldom used on such a massive scale.

Going beyond just technical advancements, director Jiao Zi’s follow-up expands upon the themes set in its original work. Unlike the initial film which focused on challenging destiny, “Ne Zha 2” delves into questioning established institutions and societal norms. It also probes the idea that moral alignment is not solely based on ethnicity or origin.

Jiao Zi’s sequel extends beyond mere technical progressions, developing the themes of its earlier version. Instead of defying fate as the first movie did, “Ne Zha 2” takes aim at established systems and societal conventions, and it investigates the notion that good and evil are not inherently tied to race or ancestry.

Trinity CineAsia has solidified its position as a top-tier distributor for martial arts and Asian action films in the U.K., particularly in the realm of premium content. Some of their latest offerings include “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” (Hong Kong’s submission for the 2025 Oscars), “Black Dog” (award-winner at Cannes Un Certain Regard), and “The Goldfinger,” a highly anticipated reunion of the stars Tony Leung and Andy Lau from “Infernal Affairs.

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2025-03-10 12:16