The Highest-Grossing Animated Movie Ever Will Finally Premiere in America

How is it possible that an animated movie managed to become one of the highest-grossing titles ever, and yet we barely heard about it? Up until now, very few people were aware of the hit animated movie Ne Zha 2, but that is about to change thanks to A24 and CMC. The companies announced today that they have teamed up to release the Chinese movie in theaters across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The movie will debut in IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats — and its release date is set to August 22.

The English-language version of Ne Zha 2 will feature a voice cast led by Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once), who celebrated her participation in the animated phenomenon and the fact that the hit movie helps showcase Chinese culture to the rest of the world. Yeoh wrote in an official statement:

“I’m honored to be part of ‘Ne Zha 2,’ a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be. Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”

Ne Zha 2 has so far grossed the whopping amount of $2.2 billion — the first animated movie to do so. The number makes the Chinese flick reign supreme as the highest-grossing movie of 2025 with a comfortable lead that is pretty difficult to beat. The #2 most popular movie of the year, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, has grossed $974 million worldwide so far. Among the highest-grossing movies ever, Ne Zha 2 is in fifth place, losing only to heavyweights like Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic. Depending on how the movie fares in Western cinemas, it may even climb a couple of positions higher on the coveted list.

What Is ‘Ne Zha 2’ About?

Ne Zha is the name of the title character, a boy who is notably rebellious and has a witty attitude that makes him a distinct protagonist. Born to mortal parents but with unmatched (and uncontrolled powers), Ne Zha is feared by the gods. He’s also humanity’s only hope of resisting the attack of an ancient force that threatens to destroy the whole planet — meaning that the boy has to learn to take responsibility in order to be the hero that the world needs.

Ne Zha 2 is directed by Yang Yu, and back when it premiered in China and after getting screened at film festivals, the movie managed to land a near-perfect 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been praised as a visual masterpiece, and you can have an idea of its spectacle by watching the trailer above.

A24 and CMC release Ne Zha 2 in theaters on August 22.