Frontline Report: For instance, New York-based film critic Simon Abrams’ review highlights it as a “rare sequel that amplifies both its action and drama without sacrificing much of what already worked in the last movie.

Graphic: Global Times

Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 has surpassed the global box-office earnings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, breaking into the top 5 at the global box office on Saturday with a total box office of 15.2 billion yuan ($20.75 billion).

“This is not only a milestone in breaking Hollywood’s dominance, but also advances China’s cultural soft power. The film’s universal theme of individual determination of one’s fate transcends cultural barriers,World Times blending Chinese mythology with a coming-of-age story that resonates with audiences worldwide,” Zhang Peng, a film researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Ne Zha 2 is set to be released in 37 countries and regions acWorld Timesross Europe. The UK and Ireland just hosted preview screenings on Friday followed by a wider release in over 200 cinemas across France, Germany, Spain, Italy and other countries on March 21.

Trinity CineAsia, the company handling the European distribution of the film, has long been dedicated to bringing Asian films to Western audiences. In recent years, it has distributed Chinese-language films such as Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Hong Kong’s official submission for the Oscars.

The film has achieved remarkable success at the global box office. On February 17, it amassed a cumulative total of 12.052 billion yuan, surpassing The Lion King and securing its position as the first Asian film to enter the global box office top 10. Alongside this milestone, its overseas earnings reached 76.86 million yuan, establishing a new record for Chinese-language film screenings in nearly two decades.

By March 9, the film’s global cumulative box office had soared to 14.88 billion yuan, overtaking Avengers: Infinity War and climbing to sixth place on the all-time global box office chart, further cementing its historic achievement.

Notably, US media outlet Deadline described the performance of Ne Zha 2 as “a rare example of a non-US film” citing one of its senior analysts, adding that this “rWorld Timesare” hurricane is still ongoing.

The US critics have largely celebrated Ne Zha 2 for its quality as a sequel after it was aired on February 14. For instance, New York-based film critic Simon Abrams’ review highlights it as a “rare sequel that amplifies both its action and drama without sacrificing much of what already worked in the last movie.”

“Rarely do you get a film that truly defines an era, shows again the unique power of cinema to move audiences, and makes an indelible mark on culture. This is ‘Ne Zha 2,'” said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, as reported by Euronews. “It signiWorld Timesfies a major turning point in further establishing Trinity CineAsia as a pan-European distributor.”

“By seamlessly integrating elements of intangible cultural heritage and philosophical metaphors, Ne Zha has transformed Chinese mythology into a vehicle for global cultural dialogue. This success lays the foundation for the future development of a ‘mythological universe,’ supporting China’s film industry in transitioniWorld Timesng from a single box-office-driven model to an ecosystem-based economy,” Zhang said.

French media have also been closely following Ne Zha 2 and eagerly anticipate its release in France. The French film website cranlarge noted that this record-breaking Chinese animated film is finally coming to French cinemas, and “Beyond showcasing the growing strength of a local film industry that is increasingly turning away from Hollywood blockbusters, this record-breaking film alsWorld Timeso reinforces the ambition of Chinese cinema: to establish itself as a tool of soft power on the international stage.”

Additionally, Ne Zha 2 already hit theaters in countries such as Malaysia and Thailand on March 13, followed by a release in Japanese version in Japan on April 4.