Ne Zha 2

"Witness a hero reborn."

2025 2h 24m ZH

🙌

8.2

BANGER

★8.2TMDB · 845

AnimationActionFantasyAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After a catastrophic event leaves their bodies destroyed, Ne Zha and Ao Bing are granted a fragile second chance at life. As tensions rise between the dragon clans and celestial forces, the two must undergo a series of perilous trials that will test their bond, challenge their identities, and decide the fate of both mortals and immortals.

“Witness a hero reborn.”

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Cast

Lu Yanting
Young Nezha (voice)
Joseph
Youth Nezha / Jie Jie Shou Left (voice)
Han Mo
Ao Bing (voice)
Chen Hao
Li Jing (voice)
Lu Qi
Mrs. Yin (voice)
Zhang Jiaming
Taiyi Zhenren (voice)
Yang Wei
Shen Gongbao (voice)
Wang Deshun
Wu Liang Xian Weng (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jiao Zi
Writers: Jiao Zi, Jiao Zi, Wang Jing
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: China

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $80M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Grossed $2271M — a 28.4× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Ne Zha Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Roc Chen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Lu Yanting and Joseph and Han Mo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Witness a hero reborn.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt34956443 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jiao Zi directs. Roc Chen scores. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in China. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $80M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Grossed $2271M — a 28.4× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.
3Released last year.
4Part of the "Ne Zha Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Original score by Roc Chen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Lu Yanting and Joseph and Han Mo carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Witness a hero reborn.".
8IMDB entry: tt34956443 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 10 themes, including "fight", "magic", "sequel", "dark fantasy".
10Released under 18 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Original score: Roc Chen
VFX supervisor: Jung Sung-jin
Runtime: 144 min · 2h 24m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $80,000,000
Box office: $2,270,700,370
Return: 2838% of budget
Original language: ZH
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Ne Zha 2 (2025)

Part of

Ne Zha Collection

The Ne Zha movie collection includes two major films: Ne Zha (2019) and Ne Zha 2 (2025). Ne Zha (2019) is a Chinese animated adventure fantasy action film directed by Jiaozi, based on the Chinese mythological character Ne Zha and the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods. It received critical acclaim for its stunning animation and dynamic action. The film follows Ne Zha's journey as he faces a curse that will kill him in three years and his efforts to change his fate.

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Jiao Zi

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2025-03-17
★ 7/10
This is quite an entertaining stand alone fantasy adventure that doesn’t really require you to know anything about what’s gone on before. Thanks to the sacred lotus, there’s a bit of reincarnation going on, but will that be completed in time to save the population of the “Chentang Pass” about to be attacked by an army of lava-borne devils? With certain defeat looming, the immortals start to take an hand in things - not unlike the story of the siege of Troy, and just like that take from antiquity, there is plenty of betrayal and duplicity to complement the more traditional stories of loyalty, family and team building as the story gradually builds to it’s pot-boiling climax. The CGI is better than many, much less two-dimensional, and there is lots of vibrant action as the naive but honourable young “Nezha” must find his own destiny, define his relationship with the more clean cut “Ao Bing” all despite the distant intervention of the “Loong” dragon kings and always under the watchful gaze of the cloud-hopping “Wu Liang” - a being outwardly benign and munificent, but is he all that he seems behind that grey beard? If you are of a mind to look deeper, then it may well offer up a critique of modern China - or, quite possibly many other societies, where the weak are manipulated and persecuted, where family is increasingly undervalued and where power and riches are the true gods. Essentially, I just found it to be a classily produced computer animation that mixed the astonishing richness of Chinese mythology with a solid adventure concept and just a little bit of pantomime humour as we go along. It looks great in a cinema, and doesn’t hang about getting off to a lively start and pacing well for a couple of action-packed hours.
wu66chen2025-09-03
“Ne Zha 2” – A Spectacle with Hidden Flaws Ne Zha 2 is undeniably one of the most talked-about Chinese animated films this year. It shines in visual spectacle and box office performance, yet its storytelling, character development, and marketing approach have raised considerable controversy. Strengths: A Blend of Technical Brilliance and Emotional Pull To begin with, the film’s visuals are stunning. From the vast underwater world to intense battle sequences, the technical craftsmanship sets a new benchmark for Chinese animation. The art direction, with its distinct Eastern fantasy flavor, delivers imagery that rivals Hollywood productions. On an emotional level, the bond between Ne Zha and Ao Bing still resonates. Themes of friendship and family, though somewhat conventional, are presented with enough intensity to move audiences. For fans of the first film, this familiar emotional thread is a key factor in sustaining box office momentum. Weaknesses: Shallow Story, Stagnant Characters But when we shift our focus from spectacle to story, the shortcomings become apparent. Contrived storytelling: Many conflicts feel forced, driven by the need to move the plot rather than by genuine character motivation. Supporting roles such as Shen Gongbao or Lady Stone are reduced to narrative props. Repetitive character arcs: Ne Zha’s rebellious transformation was already central in the first film, yet this sequel repeats the same beats without offering meaningful growth. Uneven pacing: The film relies heavily on set pieces while skimming over emotional build-up. Comedy and tragedy often feel abrupt, creating the impression that technical “show-off” takes precedence over genuine storytelling. As a result, despite its dazzling surface, the film often feels hollow, lacking the lasting depth that keeps stories alive in memory. Marketing and Box Office Tactics: Overexertion After release, the film’s run was extended four times, stretching from the Lunar New Year season all the way into summer. While promoted as a response to “audience demand,” it was largely a deliberate strategy to inflate box office numbers. This prolonged dominance squeezed out newer films and led to audience fatigue. Even more curious was the phenomenon of fans buying multiple tickets to give away to friends or colleagues—essentially acting as street promoters for the studio. While this boosted revenue figures, it also undermines the authenticity of box office as a measure of genuine audience interest. Numbers driven by hype are not the same as numbers driven by real demand. Conclusion: Industrial Triumph, Narrative Regret Ne Zha 2 stands as an impressive industrial achievement, showcasing China’s growth in animation technology, marketing, and commercial execution. Yet its reliance on spectacle and aggressive box office tactics highlights a core issue: without strong storytelling and deeper character work, such success risks feeling hollow. The film is both a milestone and a mirror—it reflects the heights Chinese animation can reach, while reminding us that lasting impact still depends not on hype or spectacle, but on the strength of the story itself.
tmdb903292122025-09-08
Bro, Nezha 2 completely misses the point of the first movie. In the first one, the dragons weren’t enemies they were tricked by The Supreme Lords into doing their dirty work, capturing monsters, and ended up also being trapped in the underwater purgatory. But in the second movie, the story feels totally disconnected from that and somehow leaving doesn't matter nor some of the problems caused. Like It honestly seems like the producers didn’t even try, since some scenes look copied and pasted from the original and the movie in general don't make sense in many parts nor what the actual Subject for the movie was, I feel so disappointed in this since I was so excited to see the movie to end up feeling dissatisfied and definitely disappointed😕