The blockbuster animation Ne Zha 2 has rewritten cinema history, becoming the first film to cross 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) at the box office in a single market within just two weeksâequivalent to selling 7 tickets every second since its premiere, according to Maoyan data. But its real impact stretches far beyond theater walls.
Industry analysts highlight three key economic drivers: merchandise (plush toys and apparel sales up 240% YoY), tourism (locations from the filmâs myth-inspired world driving a 65% spike in bookings to historical sites), and tech partnerships (AR filters featuring the beloved character racked up 1.2 billion views on Douyin).
Startups are riding the wave too, with sustainable fashion brand ReTale launching Ne Zha-themed upcycled accessoriesâa move that aligns with Gen Zâs eco-conscious values while tapping into cultural nostalgia. Meanwhile, Tencentâs new interactive Ne Zha mobile game pre-orders surpassed 5 million in 24 hours.
\"This isn't just a movieâitâs a cross-industry economic engine,\" said Li Wei, a Shanghai-based cultural economist. \"When storytelling meets smart IP monetization, you create opportunities from e-commerce to job creation.\" With spin-off series and theme park collaborations announced, the Ne Zha phenomenon shows no signs of slowingâproving ancient myths can fuel modern economies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
