18,000 Cr Shocker: Animated Film Beat All Hollywood Giants

When several blockbuster sequels from Hollywood unspooled in theatres throughout the year, it is usually expected that one of these tentpole movies to lead the list of highest grossing films by the end of 2025. But, that is not the case because the biggest money-making hit of 2025 is the sequel of a Chinese animated film which was made on a budget of 700 Crores. 

Yes, you heard it right. The biggest grosser of 2025 is not Avatar 3 or Jurassic World: Rebirth or Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning or The Fantastic Four: First Steps or some other Hollywood biggie. It is Ne Zha 2, a Chinese animated film that raked in about $2.2 Billion (18,000 Crore) worldwide and stands way ahead of the next films in the list.

Interestingly, the next highest grossing film also comes from the same genre as Zootopia 2 comes second in the list with close to $1.5 Billion gross. Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie emerged as the third- and fourth-highest grossing movies of the year.

Directed and written by Jiaozi (also known as Yu Yang), the movie is inspired by the Chinese mythological character Ne Zha, a demon child voiced by Lü Yanting and Joseph Cao in Mandarin and Crystal Lee and Griffin Puatu in English. It was produced by Chengdu Coco Cartoon and Beijing Enlight Media. 

Ne Zha 2 broke the world record for the highest-grossing animated movie of all time after surpassing Hollywood’s Inside Out. While numerous Hollywood films that released this year amid high expectations failed to surpass the $1 Billion mark, both Ne Zha 2 and Zootopia 2 achieved the feat in canter due to the roaring reception in China and other Asian countries. 

Released in January this year, Ne Zha 2 romped into the $ 2 Billion in just two months and created history by becoming the seventh film of all time to achieve the rare feat. The film showcased China’s technical prowess in the animation industry and also proved the untapped potential in the genre. 

It is also the first non-English animated film to cross the $2 billion mark and only the second non-Disney film after Shrek 2 (2004) that has achieved the feat. Going by the current trend, it is unlikely that Hollywood’s much hyped year end release Avatar: Fire and Ash will emulate Ne Zha 2 in the coming days.