Chinese animation Ne Zha 2 hits theaters in Middle East
Movie premieres in Dubai as it charms audiences with visuals and mythology
Ne Zha 2 draws from a beloved mythological figure, Nezha, a revered protective deity. Its screenplay is adapted from the 16th-17th-century classic The Investiture of the Gods, one of the earliest major literary works to weave Taoist and Buddhist concepts of "deities" and "demons".
Written and directed by Yang Yu, known professionally as Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 has already claimed three historic titles: The highest-grossing animated film ever, the fifth-highest-grossing film of any genre globally and the top-earning non-English-language film in history.
Since hitting the big screen during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday in January, it has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross $1 billion in a single market.
It has so far made $2.2 billion at the global box office, including $20 million in the United States and Canada alone.
As a teenager who is studying Chinese, Munzer Al Malkani said he had eagerly awaited the film after hearing friends rave about it all year. "Ne Zha 2 is absolutely in high standards. I cannot wait to watch Ne Zha 3. If possible, if I get the chance, I'd love to visit China and see its majestic scenery in person."
