In an unexpected turn of events, the Chinese animated feature Ne Zha 2 has surpassed The Super Mario Bros. Movie in global box office earnings, propelling the fantasy adventure past the beloved Nintendo film and knocking it out of the fourth spot on the all-time highest-grossing animated movies list. This new milestone sees Ne Zha 2 becoming the third highest-grossing animated film, a surprise considering The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s initial success in 2023.
Originally announced in 2018, The Super Mario Bros. Movie remained largely under wraps until a 2021 Nintendo Direct revealed its voice cast. Despite mixed reactions at first, audiences flocked to theaters upon its release, quickly catapulting it past the $1 billion mark. However, Ne Zha 2, a Chinese animated film, has stunned the industry by claiming a remarkable $1.5 billion in global box office earnings, pushing The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Frozen 2 down the rankings.
Ne Zha 2 is a direct sequel to the 2019 hit Ne Zha and draws inspiration from the 16th-century Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods, intertwining the mythological tale of Nezha, the Crown Prince. As of February 14, 2025, the film has expanded beyond China, increasing its international earnings and solidifying its position in the global market.
While The Super Mario Bros. Movie now sits behind Ne Zha 2, attention is turning to the next Super Mario Bros. sequel, sparking curiosity over whether it will achieve the same box office success as Ne Zha 2.
Top 10 Highest-Grossing Animated Movies of All Time:
- Inside Out 2
- The Lion King (2019)
- Ne Zha 2
- Frozen 2
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Frozen
- Incredibles 2
- Minions
- Toy Story 4
- Toy Story 3
Ne Zha 2 is not alone in its ability to outperform The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Inside Out 2, released in 2024, also surpassed the Nintendo film, achieving the top spot as the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Other sequels, such as Moana 2 and Pixar’s Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, and Incredibles 2, have similarly outperformed their predecessors at the box office.
With the rising success of sequels like Ne Zha 2, fans of animated films and video game adaptations alike are eager to see what lies ahead for the Super Mario Bros. franchise, anticipating a potential box office hit in its sequel.
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