The sequel to Inside Out from Pixar surrendered its position as the top-grossing animated movie throughout history to Ne Zha 2. The 2024 animated sequel took control of worldwide theaters to amass an incredible $1.68 billion while surpassing animated successes that included Frozen II, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Minions.
However, its reign was short-lived. Ne Zha 2 achieved the status of highest-grossing animation in 2025 at 12.3 billion yuan, equivalent to $1.69 billion. Inside Out 2 needs to settle for the ninth spot while Ne Zha 2 gains the position of number eight in the history of highest-grossing films.
A Record-Breaking Takeover
Historically, the animated box office leadership changes at an unprecedented pace. Inside Out 2 managed to break records after Frozen II maintained its position at the top for five years and six months. After becoming the top-grossing animated film for six years, the first Frozen lost its position to the sequel, which then held this title for an additional five years until Ne Zha 2 was released. Finding Nemo possessed the animation record for a short time before Shrek 2 replaced it however,r that duration exceeded one year. Ne Zha 2 accomplished what had never been done in animation history when it surpassed the Inside Out 2 record within months.
Ne Zha 2’s Unprecedented Success
Ne Zha 2 surpassed other major animation records in addition to establishing its position as the highest-grossing animated movie. The movie became the initial 2025 release to exceed $1 billion at the box office despite this milestone being characteristic of summer blockbuster performance. This animation has achieved the title of the highest-grossing Chinese film in the industry, surpassing all previous Chinese business blockbusters.
The achievement defining the record-breaking movie is its full domination across a single market territory. Ne Zha 2 achieved all its worldwide success within China’s market because it turned away from global expansion. The film maintains the world record as the biggest earner within a single market. One unique fact about Ne Zha 2 is that among all movies in the top 20 highest-grossing films; it holds the distinction of being the sole film with a non-English language.
What’s Next?
It demonstrates that the Chinese box office industry is experiencing a powerful revival after demonstrating a solid recovery in recent times. While its total earnings are impressive, it still faces competition in 2025. Major upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash could challenge its top spot before the year is over.
