On its first day, "Ne Zha 2" achieved a box office of HKD 6.57 million, breaking the opening box office record for animated films in Hong Kong and Macau

The real-time box office of the Chinese animated film "Ne Zha's Devil Child" ("Ne Zha 2") has surpassed 13.4 billion yuan. It premiered in Hong Kong and Macau last Saturday, with a first-day box office of HKD 6.5728 million and an attendance of 92,035 people, making it the highest-grossing animated film on opening day in the history of Hong Kong and Macau.

Becoming a Trend Among Elementary School Students

The Deputy Secretary for Administration, Eric Tsang, stated yesterday (23rd) at a public event that since its release on the first day of the Lunar New Year, "Ne Zha 2" has grossed over 12.4 billion yuan by February 19, topping the global animated film box office chart and ranking as the eighth highest-grossing film worldwide. "Ne Zha 2" brilliantly portrays Chinese mythology, showcasing the excellence of Chinese culture and the country's strong creativity and soft power to the world.

The Secretary for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs, Alice Mak, also mentioned on social media that it had been a long time since she watched a late-night show, and she specifically went to see "Ne Zha 2" because it is an eagerly anticipated film, and her niece insisted on watching it on the first day. She said her niece had watched "Ne Zha 1" a few years ago and had seen many short clips online, so she was eager to watch it. She quoted her niece as saying, "I heard many of my classmates are going to see this movie this weekend; it has become a trend among elementary school students." Mak described the film as highly anticipated and praised its successful technology and engaging storyline.

Foreigners Praise It as "Comparable to Disney"

On the other hand, over a hundred foreigners also rented out a theater in Causeway Bay to watch "Ne Zha 2" yesterday, praising it as "comparable to Disney." British student Sebastian, who has some understanding of Chinese culture, said that through this film, he gained a deeper appreciation for the charm of Chinese mythology. Irfan from Turkey, who brought his daughter to the screening, said this was his first exposure to Chinese animated films, and he praised the touching storyline, noting that his daughter was captivated by the main character Ne Zha, calling him "a hero full of courage and personality." Irfan believes that Chinese animation has developed a unique narrative style that can compete with giants like Disney in the global market.

Injecting Confidence into a Sluggish Box Office

The bosses of the four distribution companies were also very pleased with the film's success. The chairman of Eastern Films, Huang Baoming, stated, "Congratulations to 'Ne Zha 2' for becoming the highest-grossing animated film on opening day in Hong Kong's film history. This work not only showcases the profound heritage of Chinese traditional culture but also reinterprets classic stories from a modern perspective. I look forward to more Hong Kong audiences entering theaters to personally experience this excellent work and feel its unique cultural charm and deep emotional connotation!" The chairman of Media Asia Group, Lam Kin Ngok, also expressed happiness: "This time, we collaborated with other companies to introduce 'Ne Zha 2,' which has a stronger reputation than the first installment and is continuously breaking records. We hope to bring more surprises to Hong Kong audiences."

The chairman of Emperor Group, Yang Shoucheng, stated, "I am very honored and have great confidence in the film; the box office will continue to rise. I believe 'Ne Zha 2' can become one of the top five highest-grossing films globally, bringing glory to the country, and as a Chinese person, I feel very proud." Ding Kai, general manager of Silver City Group, also expressed happiness about the film's good performance: "I am very happy to see today's box office results, which can inject confidence into the sluggish film market and encourage peers "It also allows us to see hope, with the expectation that more outstanding mainland films will be released in Hong Kong, showcasing Hong Kong's unique charm as a center for cultural exchange between China and the West." (Reporter Yunxun)

Image: The China Story International KOL Alliance held a cross-cultural screening event for "Ne Zha 2: The Devil's Wrath" yesterday at the Causeway Bay Cinema, inviting expatriates from different countries to enjoy this highly anticipated Chinese animated film together with local youth. China News Service