Highest-Grossing Animated Movie of All Time Sets English-Language U.S. Release from A24, Michelle Yeoh Joins Voice Cast

The biggest animated movie in the world is finally making its way to English-speaking theaters. “Ne Zha 2,” the record-breaking Chinese animated film, is getting an English-language release this summer, thanks to A24 and CMC Pictures.

The film is set to hit theaters in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on August 22. It’ll be shown in IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats.

The English version also comes with a big addition to the voice cast: Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh. While her exact role hasn’t been revealed, Yeoh shared her excitement in a statement. “I’m honored to be part of ‘Ne Zha 2,’ a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” she said. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry and magic of this film on the big screen.”

Written and directed by Yang Yu (also known as Jiaozi), the film is a sequel to 2019’s hit “Ne Zha.” The story follows a boy named Ne Zha, who was born with dangerous powers and feared by the gods. In this new chapter, he must face an ancient evil force and learn to become the hero the world needs.

The movie opened in China on January 29, 2025, during the Lunar New Year holiday, and it’s been a massive hit ever since. It earned more than $2.2 billion worldwide on a reported $80 million budget. That makes it the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, the highest-grossing non-English-language movie, and the first animated film ever to make over $2 billion globally. It’s also the top-grossing movie of 2025 so far and now sits among the top five highest-grossing films in cinema history.

The film continues the story of Ne Zha and Ao Bing after both are struck by divine lightning, which destroys their bodies. Their teacher, Master Taiyi Zhenren, sacrifices a powerful lotus flower to rebuild them, but their new bodies are unstable. Meanwhile, Ao Bing’s father, the Dragon King, believes his son is dead and wages war on Chentang Pass. Ao Bing tries to protect the city but ends up pushing his body past its limits.

Critics in China have praised the film for its animation, emotional depth, and action scenes. On Douban, it scored 8.5 out of 10. On ticketing platforms Maoyan and Taopiaopiao, the ratings were even higher—9.7 and 9.8 respectively. Red Star News called the film a strong example of storytelling done right, saying it proves that “respect for the audience” is the real key to success. Shangguan News liked the visuals and pacing but felt the story didn’t have much surprise.

“Ne Zha 2” is based on the classic Chinese mythological novel Investiture of the Gods, and just like the first film, it blends traditional stories with modern animation. Now, with the English release and Michelle Yeoh joining the cast, the film is set to reach a whole new audience.

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