2025’s Top-Grossing Film Becomes Unexpected US Box Office Flop

A Chinese animated film has become the highest-grossing movie of 2025 worldwide. “Ne Zha 2” has earned a staggering $2 billion at the global box office. But its recent US release tells a completely different story. The film shockingly flopped upon its American debut.

The English-dubbed version opened to a meager $1.5 million last weekend. This performance failed to secure a spot in the top ten highest earners. The result is a stunning box office anomaly.

Record-Breaking Global Success Meets American Indifference

“Ne Zha 2” is an animated action-comedy based on Chinese mythology. It is a sequel to the highly successful 2019 film. The movie shattered records across Asia and other international markets. It is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time globally.

Its US release was handled by the respected distributor A24. The studio assembled a notable voice cast led by Michelle Yeoh. Despite this effort, the film opened on August 24 to disastrous numbers. It earned a per-theater average of just $628.

Analyzing the Stunning US Box Office Failure

A detailed report from Deadline highlighted the audience demographics. The turnout was 91% general audiences and only 8% families. This suggests a failure to connect with the key family movie-going demographic in America.

The film also faced competition from over a dozen other releases. More importantly, an English-subtitled version was released earlier this year. That version actually earned more, indicating a preference for the original language. This shows American audiences were not interested in the dubbed format.

The performance confirms a major industry shift. Success in the Chinese market no longer guarantees similar results in the United States. Cultural differences and storytelling styles can create a significant box office divide.

The story of “Ne Zha 2” is a clear lesson in global cinema. A film can achieve historic worldwide success while simultaneously becoming a notable flop in a single major market. The Ne Zha 2 box office story highlights the unpredictable nature of international film distribution.

Info at your fingertips-

What is Ne Zha 2 about?

It is a Chinese animated fantasy film. It is based on a 16th-century novel and ancient mythological character. The story follows the adventures of the young deity Ne Zha.

How much did Ne Zha 2 make worldwide?

The film has earned over $2 billion globally. This makes it the highest-grossing film of 2025 and the top animated release ever.

Why did it fail in the US?

Analysts point to cultural disconnect and a crowded release date. The primary audience preferred the original subtitled version over the new English dub.

Who distributed Ne Zha 2 in America?

The independent studio A24 handled the US release. They are known for distributing critical darlings and award-winning films.

Was the critical response positive?

Yes, general audience scores were high. The film received an 85% positive score from viewers in post-release polling.

Will this affect future Chinese film releases?

It will likely make US distributors more selective. They may focus on subtitled releases for niche audiences rather than wide dubs.