Topline<\/p>\n
An English dub of \u201cNe Zha 2,\u201d the Chinese animated movie that shattered box office records and has grossed more than $2 billion to date, mostly in China, opens in American theaters this weekend as Western critics give it positive reviews.<\/p>\n
Michelle Yeoh stars in the English dub of “Ne Zha 2.” (Photo by Michael Buckner\/Variety via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Variety via Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
\u201cNe Zha 2\u201d begins its English dub screenings in American theaters on Thursday, starring the voice of Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Lady Yin, the mother of the protagonist Nezha.<\/p>\n
Distributor A24 handled the release of the English dub in American theaters in partnership with Chinese company CMC Pictures, and the movie will screen in IMAX and 3D formats.<\/p>\n
The movie is already one of the highest-grossing films of all time\u2014with little help so far from the United States, where the original Chinese-language version opened in February and grossed about $20 million, according to Box Office Mojo<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNe Zha 2\u201d has grossed<\/a> about $2.2 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing animated movie in history, taking the title from last year\u2019s smash hit \u201cInside Out 2.\u201d<\/p>\n Reviews from American film critics rolled in Thursday as the movie opened in the United States, earning a 94% \u201ccertified fresh\u201d score on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why Is \u201cne Zha 2\u201d Coming To The United States?<\/p>\n A24 said the film is a \u201cmilestone in modern animation \u2013 merging emotionally resonant storytelling, mythological spectacle, and cutting-edge visual artistry\u201d in a statement. Yeoh told Reuters<\/a> on Thursday the movie is a \u201cbeautiful story\u201d and said she hoped moviegoers would \u201cstop seeing it as, ‘Oh it’s a Chinese film.\u2019\u201d She said the film is \u201cvery important\u201d because audiences can learn about ancient Chinese mythology, as \u201cNe Zha 2\u201d is based on ancient Chinese \u201cwarriors and demigods.\u201d<\/p>\n How Are U.s. Critics Reacting To \u201cne Zha 2?\u201d<\/p>\n American critics gave \u201cNe Zha 2\u201d positive reviews. New York Times<\/a> critic Maya Phillips praised the movie as \u201cambitious\u201d and a \u201ctestament to the level of artistry in the Chinese animation industry right now\u201d in a review Thursday. Phillips said the movie is \u201cimaginative and unpredictable\u201d and said the skill level of its animators is the most impressive part. San Francisco Chronicle<\/a> critic Michael Ordo\u00f1a said the movie is a \u201cmust-see,\u201d calling it a \u201cwork of astounding visual imagination.\u201d Seattle Times<\/a> writer Qina Liu said the movie \u201cdeserves its accolades,\u201d stating the \u201cNe Zha\u201d universe \u201crivals the Marvel franchise in scale and spectacle.\u201d In a less positive review, Washington Post<\/a> critic Chris Klimek praised the movie as \u201cvisually stunning\u201d but \u201cnarratively opaque,\u201d stating it can be confusing for those unfamiliar with Chinese legends. Klimek considered the movie\u2019s English release \u201ccultural imperialism in reverse,\u201d noting U.S. blockbusters often got a big boost from the Chinese box office, though Chinese interest in American films has waned<\/a> in recent years.<\/p>\n How Did \u201cne Zha 2\u201d Become A Hit In China?<\/p>\n \u201cNe Zha 2\u201d opened in Chinese theaters in January, five years after its predecessor, \u201cNe Zha,\u201d grossed more than $740 million in its theatrical run. Multiple<\/a> outlets<\/a> reported the movie sold more than 300 million tickets in China, equal to about a fifth of the country\u2019s population. Deadline<\/a> reported the movie benefitted from its release during Lunar New Year, when workers have time off, adding the movie became a sense of national pride. Deadline also said China had worked to build more movie theaters in recent years and that the government offered $80 million in subsidized tickets. <\/p>\n What To Watch For<\/p>\n Whether \u201cNe Zha 2\u201d succeeds at U.S. theaters and adds to its massive box office haul. <\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n