China’s box office continues to demonstrate robust performance, driven by the immense success of “Ne Zha 2,” which remains at the forefront of the industry. The animated feature, released by Cococartoon, grossed an impressive RMB 274.9 million ($38.2 million) over the period of March 3-9. This latest haul brings the film’s total earnings to a staggering $2.04 billion, making it the first Chinese film to cross the $2 billion threshold, according to Artisan Gateway.
“Ne Zha 2” also continued to dominate the Imax format. The film earned an additional $4.2 million from Imax screenings, lifting its cumulative Imax total in China to $148 million and worldwide to $150.6 million. These numbers place “Ne Zha 2” sixth in the all-time Imax rankings, surpassing major blockbusters like “Interstellar” ($145 million), “Avengers: Infinity War” ($145.8 million), and “Dune 2” ($146.5 million). With upcoming Imax releases scheduled in the U.K., Ireland, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand, the film is poised for further growth on the global stage.
In terms of all-time grossing films, “Ne Zha 2” has now overtaken “Avengers: Infinity War,” securing its spot as the sixth highest-grossing film of all time.
In second place for the week, As One Production’s “Detective Chinatown 1900” earned $4.6 million, bringing its total to $484 million. The latest installment of this popular mystery-comedy series continues to perform solidly, though it remains far behind the record-breaking pace set by “Ne Zha 2.”
The weekend’s third spot went to Lian Ray Pictures’ “Always Have Always Will,” a road-trip drama about a down-on-his-luck man who embarks on a journey with a sick girl. The film grossed $2.9 million in its opening weekend.
Vision Distribution’s “There’s Still Tomorrow,” directed by Paola Cortellesi, debuted in fourth place with $2 million. The Italian film, set in postwar Rome, tells the story of a working-class wife and mother who dreams of a brighter future.
Completing the top five, Kai Pictures’ romantic drama “Love Island” opened with $1.9 million.
Additional notable debuts included Vivian Qu’s Berlinale award-winning film “Girls on Wire,” which landed in eighth place with $1.8 million, and Bong Joon Ho’s much-anticipated sci-fi thriller “Mickey 17,” which opened in tenth place with $1.4 million, according to Ent Group.
The total box office for the weekend reached $60.3 million, pushing China’s cumulative 2025 box office to $3.27 billion. This marks a 60.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring the continued growth and vitality of the country’s film industry.
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