SCREEN CLASH OF THE TITANS

As the countdown to Chinese New Year begins, one thing is certain: China's Spring Festival box office is gearing up for a spectacular showdown. With a lineup featuring cinematic heavyweights, the holiday season in the world's second-largest film market promises an epic clash of the titans.

The release date for Ne Zha 2, the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2019 animated blockbuster Ne Zha, has officially been set for the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year's Day, which will fall on Jan 29.

The announcement was made through the film's official Weibo account on Tuesday, accompanied by a promotional video featuring a battle-ready Ne Zha, signaling the beloved character's triumphant comeback.

Directed by Yang Yu, widely known as Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 is the result of a five-year endeavor to build on the original film's unprecedented success. Ne Zha not only became a cultural phenomenon but also secured its place as China's highest-grossing animated film of all time, earning over 5 billion yuan ($695 million).

The sequel joins an already formidable lineup for the 2025 Spring Festival, which includes Tsui Hark's adaptation of Louis Cha's wuxia (martial arts and chivalry) classic The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Wuershan's epic fantasy sequel Creation of the Gods II, and the family-friendly Boonie Bears: Future Reborn, the latest installment in the long-running animated franchise.

The producers of Ne Zha 2 are touting the film as a "dimensional upgrade" from its predecessor.

The sequel aims to captivate audiences with a grander narrative and cutting-edge visual effects, particularly in its complex water animations. From Ne Zha diving into the sea to parting the waters in a dazzling display of power, the film raises the stakes in both scale and ambition.

Retaining the franchise's signature blend of humor and emotional resonance, Ne Zha 2 aligns with the Spring Festival themes of reunion and celebration.

"Five years after the release of Ne Zha, audiences are finally getting the sequel," writes one enthusiastic Weibo user. "This installment is bound to deliver a grand spectacle — a blockbuster made for the big screen."

High stakes

The Spring Festival holiday, set to run from Jan 28 to Feb 4 in 2025, remains China's most lucrative moviegoing window. The 2024 festival set the bar high, generating a record 8 billion yuan in box-office revenue, with four of its releases ranking among the year's top five earners.

Yet, the stakes are even higher for 2025 as the industry looks to rebound from a challenging 2024. Partly due to disappointing summer and October holiday seasons, China's year-to-date box office revenue experienced a 21 percent year-on-year decline, according to box-office tracker Maoyan.

Chen Jin, an analyst at film data platform Beacon, has underscored the significance of this period. "Since 2021, box-office revenue during this holiday has consistently exceeded 6 billion yuan annually, with 2024 surpassing 8 billion yuan. We're optimistic that the upcoming lineup will maintain this momentum," he says.

The 2025 Spring Festival lineup also promises variety and star power.

The Legend of the Condor Heroes brings martial arts nostalgia to the forefront, while Creation of the Gods II offers an effects-heavy spectacle that has drawn comparisons to Hollywood blockbusters. And Boonie Bears, which is celebrating its 11th annual installment, is set for a steady turnout of families seeking lighthearted entertainment.

"The Spring Festival is not just a revenue generator — it sets the tone for the entire year," Yin Hong, vice-chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University, says in a report that the association and Beacon released on the sidelines of the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

"During this holiday, moviegoing remains a key entertainment choice for families, creating robust demand," Yin notes. "If 70 percent of the lineup meets audience satisfaction, we could see two or three major hits — or even more."

Yin emphasizes the importance of the season as a bellwether for the broader industry: "We hope the 2025 Spring Festival will lay a strong foundation for the year ahead, signaling vitality and inspiring anticipation among moviegoers."

Xinhua