E-Paper
Sign In
Cinematic triumph: Animation Ne Zha 2 hits theatres in Middle East
Movie premieres in Dubai as it charms audiences with visuals and mythology
- PUBLISHED: Fri 25 Jul 2025, 8:00 AM
- By:
- Cui Haipei
- Share:
The Chinese film Ne Zha 2, the highest-grossing animated film ever, has begun screening in cinemas across the Middle East, captivating audiences with its universally resonant storytelling, mythic grandeur and cutting-edge visual artisanship.
At its Dubai premiere on July 15, nearly 200 moviegoers gathered to experience modern animation, presented in Chinese with both English and Arabic subtitles.
Recommended For You
“I saw incredible visuals that surpass even Hollywood’s standards,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak as his two children gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “I hope it can become No 1 at the global box office. Though I don’t understand Chinese, the subtitles helped me fully engage with the story.”
Starting from July 17, an Arabic-dubbed version, blending standard Arabic with Saudi, Egyptian and other regional dialects, reached cinemas in the UAE.
“It’s truly a family-friendly film,” Mubarak said, adding that he plans to watch it again with his children in the Arabic version. “We can focus more deeply on the plot.”
Ne Zha 2 draws from a beloved mythological figure, Nezha, a revered protective deity. Its screenplay is adapted from the 16th-17th-century classic The Investiture of the Gods, one of the earliest major literary works to weave Taoist and Buddhist concepts of deities and demons.
Ne Zha 2 has already claimed three historic titles: The highest-grossing animated film ever, the fifth-highest-grossing film of any genre globally and the top-earning non-English-language film.
Since hitting the big screen during the Spring Festival holiday in January, it has broken numerous box office records, becoming the first film to gross $1 billion in a single market. It has made $2.2 billion at the global box office.
Munzer Al Malkani, a teenager who is studying Chinese, said he had eagerly awaited the film after hearing friends extol it all year.
“Ne Zha 2 is absolutely of high standards. I cannot wait to watch Ne Zha 3. If possible, if I get the chance, I’d love to visit China and see its majestic scenery in person.”
Ou Boqian, China’s consul-general in Dubai, said: “There is a line in the movie that goes, ‘My fate is determined by my own hands, not by heaven’. This perfectly embodies the Chinese spirit, a refusal to submit to fate, a value the UAE shares. I hope the film will spark broader interest in Chinese culture.”
The film, distributed by PBA Entertainment of Dubai and backed by Chinese embassies, consulates and cultural centres, premiered in Saudi Arabia last month and has also been seen in Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar this month.
— This article is part of advertorial feature titled China Watch, published in print.
