There have been some major box office hits throughout 2025, with films like Jurassic World: Rebirth, A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and Zootopia 2 all pulling in impressive totals at the theater. Zootopia still has even more tickets to sell in the coming weeks, and yet it’s still not likely to get close to the biggest record-breaking film of the year. Now that massive fantasy film is a hit once again, but this time on HBO Max.

The goliath box office sensation known as Ne Zha 2 is the only film to cross $2 billion, but if you didn’t get a chance to get to the theater to watch it or just want to watch it a few more times, Ne Zha 2 is now available on HBO Max. The film has made a big impression in little time, as FlixPatrol’s Top 10 Movies chart for HBO Max reveals Ne Zha 2 earned the number 3 spot in its anticipated debut. The only two films ahead of it were the holiday staple Christmas with the Kranks and the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring One Battle After Another.

What Made Ne Zha II Such A Monster Hit At The Box Office?

Beijing Enlight Pictures

The first Ne Zha film was released in 2019, and while it didn’t hit the $2 billion mark, it still delivered big with over $726 million worldwide. The film was directed and written by Jiaozi and follows a young boy named Nezha, who is actually the reincarnated Demon Orb that was split off by the Supreme Lord of Heaven Yuanshi Tianzun. Not only does he possess immense power, but he is also part of a prophecy that has him causing the destruction of the world, so you know, no pressure.

The first film received a big reception from fans, and that led to an anticipated sequel in the form of Ne Zha II, which picked up the story from the original film’s thrilling conclusion. Granted, anticipation doesn’t always mean box office results, and the original already held an immensely impressive 89% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98% audience score. That was going to be difficult to top, and yet somehow Ne Zha 2 had no issues surpassing it.

In a rare feat, not only did Ne Zha II do even better with critics (and 89 of them compared to the original’s 19), but it duplicated the near perfect 98% audience score from the first film. Many praised the gorgeous animation and the epic action sequences, as well as the engaging myth-inspired story. Not only was it a bigger hit amongst critics, but it kept the same stellar formula that made it a fan favorite the first time around, and then channeled that into an all-time box office run.

Ne Zha II is streaming now on HBO Max.

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