Ne Zha 2 Review: The Global Donghua Film That Outdoes Inside Out 2

Copyright © Beijing Enlight Pictures, Chengdu Coco Cartoon, A24

Title: Ne Zha 2
Alternative Titles: 哪吒之魔童闹海 (original Chinese) 

Director: Jiaozi

Sequel to: Ne Zha (2019)

Based on: Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin

Release Date: January 29, 2025 (China), February 14, 2025 (United States, limited), August 22, 2025 (United States, dubbed)

    Hollywood has now found their highest-grossing animated film ever made. We all thought that Inside Out 2 was going to keep the highest-grossing rank after dethroning the 2019 Lion King remake, but we happened to be all wrong. Just a couple months after, a Chinese animated sequel took the crown from Disney. Today's movie, also known as our final movie of the month, is called Ne Zha 2, the sequel to the record-breaking 2019 Ne Zha movie. As well as being the first animated movie to hit the 2 billion mark, it gained a whopping $2.33 billion in box office success against a cheap $80 million budget. Besides being the highest-grossing film of 2025, it is currently one of the highest-grossing films of all time, as well as the highest-grossing non-English film of all time. Like the previous movie, it gained positive reviews from critics and audiences for its vibrant animation and deeper themes. At its time, the film broke the record for the highest audience score of 99%, until it got lowered a bit to a 98% match with Flow, another critically acclaimed movie with a big commercial success from everyone. For taking a step up on both summoning style and substance, Ne Zha 2 is a film that can change the fate of the animated film industry from Disney.

Summary

   "A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now that he's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs." - Google

Reasons

    The prettiest lotus petals of Ne Zha 2 are the emotional story, strong message, and vivid animation. While it does have new things thrown into the lore and universe, it is still in the shoes of its predecessor. The movie is 2 hours and 24 minutes long, but it was all focused on what’s important to the mission, and none of the moments were ever predictable. Well, it still does have a bit of toilet humor, but it should not matter so much. To dig in deeper, the message is different from the first movie, but it is deeper than the first try. I mean, it is still about accepting yourself and changing fate. However, the main message this time is that the true villains are established authorities and oppressive systems, plus themes of sacrifice and love. Being a part of what caused its box office success, the animation is a huge step up from the original. Like many animated movie sequels, this one has more detail and movement, plus more color to amp up the aesthetic of the original movie. We cannot believe that this random Chinese animation studio took all the effort to take down Disney and Pixar.
    Other pretty lotus petals from Ne Zha 2 include the lovable characters, crazy action, and cultural significance. All of the returning characters, like Ne Zha himself and Ao Bing, have gotten a step up in their original personalities and newly interesting arcs. It also introduces new characters, who are just as fun as the veterans, to expand the mythological universe. Their relationships with each other are what make them emotionally human and relatable. Of course, we couldn’t forget the action, but it has improved so much that it can definitely rival epic fantasy. What’s really surprising is that each battle gets more cinematic. Its fights are put into the emotion, which is what makes this movie special in the box office. Lastly, it can culturally click with Chinese audiences. It is still Ne Zha, so it is still based on Investiture of the Gods. In this movie, you can find new mythological figures and spiritual motifs, along with global themes that have been used in other animated movies by Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks. 

Conclusion

    Ne Zha 2 is a 2-hour-long animated movie that can cook both detailed animation and emotional depth. In box office words, it did deserve to dethrone Inside Out 2, although that one is also a great movie sequel. Look, I am a remaining fan of Chinese animated films like White Snake and the 2023 The Monkey King movie, but it just so happened that this film is indeed amazing. Thanks to Disney making as many controversies as it wants to, Beijing Enlight is the studio that needed that crown, even if most have never heard of Ne Zha. Just give this a watch if your action-watching stamina is ready.

    Score: 10/10 (disney is cooked)