While Hollywood typically owns the global box office, a massive shift in 2025 suggests that the East is finally claiming the ultimate throne in animation. The record-shattering performance of this particular Chinese animation indicates that domestic mythological stories can now command more financial power than the biggest Western franchises.

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It is rare to see a non-Hollywood film completely reshape the record books, but Ne Zha 2 has done exactly that in 2025. By crossing the $2.15 billion mark, it has not only overtaken Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time, but it has also officially out-earned every major Hollywood blockbuster released this year.

The movie centers on a rebellious young boy with celestial powers and is rooted deeply in Chinese mythology. Released on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the film found a second life internationally when the indie studio A24 distributed an English-dubbed version featuring the voice of Michelle Yeoh.

This performance places the film in an elite tier of cinema history, trailing only the likes of Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. Unlike traditional Hollywood hits that rely on a global spread, most of this revenue was generated within the Chinese mainland, proving the sheer scale of the world's second-largest film market.

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  While Ne Zha 2 stands alone at the summit, the rest of the year’s top earners reveal a diverse landscape of global blockbusters.  

The highest-grossing films of the year include remakes of beloved movies, superhero fare, franchise sequels, and an original film about the high-speed world of Formula 1. Disney’s Lilo & Stitch reimagining, writer-director James Gunn’s Superman, and F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt are among the top performers of the year.

The 2025 box office remained dominated by family-friendly sequels and familiar IP, though independent success stories did occasionally break through the noise.

Ne Zha 2 – $2.15 Billion

Zootopia 2 – $1.42 Billion

Lilo & Stitch – $1.03 Billion

A Minecraft Movie – $958.1 Million

Jurassic World Rebirth – $869.1 Million

Avatar: Fire and Ash – $794.1 Million

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – $718.4 Million

How to Train Your Dragon – $636.4 Million

F1: The Movie – $631.6 Million

Superman – $616.7 Million

Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh expressed her excitement regarding the film’s massive reach during the international rollout. Ne Zha 2 is a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal the stories can be.

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What is your favourite movie on the highest-grossing films' list apart from Ne Zha 2? Let us know in the comments below