How Inferior Is The MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE To NE ZHA 2?

How Inferior Is The MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE To NE ZHA 2?

Let us make a head-to-head comparison of each Marvel Cinematic Universe movie with Ne Zha 2 in terms of critical and box office performance.

Feature Opinion
By vectorsigma - May 07, 2025 11:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Studios
Source: tomatazos.com

The Chinese animated phenomenon Ne Zha 2 has achieved milestone after milestone since its release about four months ago in China. As of writing, the following are the records it has already set:

Highest-Grossing Animated Film of All Time

- Highest-Grossing Non-English Language Film of All Time

First Animated Film to $2 Billion

- First to $1 Billion in a Single Market

- Top 5 Highest Grossing Globally

- Highest-Grossing Chinese Film of All Time

- Fastest Animated Film to $1 Billion

Now on its 14th week in China, it is slowly trying to unseat Titanic as the fourth highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation). Based on our sources, it has now reached $2.18B which puts the movie much closer to Titanic with about $2.26B. Our friends at Variety also reports that there is a plan to have a more serious marketing push for a dubbed release worldwide that will add more to its already amazing returns. Not to mention if they plan to re-release it in China with additional scenes in the next Chinese New Year, imagine how high it will go. In terms of critical succes, Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a fresh rating of 96% Tomatometer based on 23 reviews and an outstanding 99% Popcornmeter based on 1000+ reviews.

So how does it compare to Marvel Cinematic Universe movies both critically (RT) and financially? Let's take a peak and start from the highest reviewed movie to the lowest:

NE ZHA 2: RT: 96%; BO: $2.18+B

1. Black Panther: RT: 96% (=); BO: $1.3+B (<)

2. Avengers Endgame: RT: 94% (<); BO: $2.7+B (>)

3. Iron Man: RT: 94% (<); BO: $500+M (<)

4. Thor: Ragnarok: RT: 93% (<); BO: $800+M (<)

5. Spider-Man: NWH: RT: 93% (<); BO: $1.9B (<)

6. Spider-Man: Homecoming: RT: 92% (<); BO: $800+M (<)

7. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: RT: 92% (<); BO: $400+M (<)

8. Guardians of the Galaxy: RT: 92% (<); BO: $700+M (<)

9. Spider-Man: Far From Home: RT: 91% (<); BO: $1.1+B (<)

10. Marvel's The Avengers: RT: 91% (<); BO: $1.5B (<)

11. Captain America: Civil War: RT: 90% (<); BO: $1.1+B (<)

12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier: RT: 90% (<); BO: $700+M (<)

13. Doctor Strange: RT: 89% (<); BO: $600+M (<)

14. Thunderbolts*: RT: 88% (<); BO: $100+M (<, ongoing)

15. Ant-Man and the Wasp: RT: 87% (<); BO: $600+M (<)

16. Avengers: Infinity War: RT: 85% (<); BO: $2.05+B (<)

17. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: RT: 85% (<); BO: $800+M (<)

18. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: RT: 84% (<); BO: $800+M (<)

19. Ant-Man: RT: 83% (<); BO: $500+M (<)

20. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: RT: 82% (<); BO: $800+M (<)

21. Captain America: The First Avenger: RT: 80% (<); BO: $300+M (<)

22. Captain Marvel: RT: 79% (<); BO: $1.1+B (<)

23. Black Widow: RT: 79% (<); BO: $300+M (<)

24. Iron Man 3: RT: 79% (<); BO: $1.2+B (<)

25. Deadpool & Wolverine: RT: 78% (<); BO: $1.3+B (<)

26. Thor: RT: 77% (<); BO: $400+M (<)

27. Avengers: Age of Ultron: RT: 76% (<); BO: $1.4+B (<)

28. Iron Man 2: RT: 72% (<); BO: $600+M (<)

29. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: RT: 74% (<); BO: $900+M (<)

30. The Incredible Hulk: RT: 68% (<); BO: $200+M (<)

31. Thor: The Dark World: RT: 67% (<); BO: $600+M (<)

32. Thor: Love and Thunder: RT: 63% (<); BO: $700+M (<)

33. The Marvels: RT: 62% (<); BO: $200+M (<)

34. Captain America: Brave New World: RT: 48% (<); BO: $400+M (<)

35. Eternals: RT: 47% (<); BO: $400+M (<)

36. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: RT: 46% (<); BO: $400+M (<)

Clearly, only Avengers Endgame has edged Ne Zha 2 in the box office but time will tell with a couple of re-releases and the mentioned dub release whether it can unseat the remaining 4 movies in the all time list. But as of right now, Marvel has a lot of catching up to do in terms of the quality of this movie and it will be exciting for us fans if they do.

The film about a demon boy raised by humans and strives to cultivate himself and protect the people around him from demons and gods. It has broken multiple box office records including the highest grossing Chinese film of all time, the highest grossing animated film of all time beating Inside Out 2, and placing within the top 5 highest grossing films of all time, beating the likes of Spider-man No Way Home, Avengers Infinity War, and Star Wars the Force Awakens.

The film is inspired by Chinese mythology with stories dating back to the 16th century under the title "Investiture of the Gods." He is a protection deity who is both heroic and rebellious in nature. For those familiar with Sun Wukong and the story of Journey to the West, Ne Zha was one of the warriors who faced him when he wrecked havoc in heaven.

With a reported $80M budget, the movie features breathtaking animation that took about 4,000 animators to make in 5 years with about 2,000 visual effects shots. The third act alone features about a reported 200 million individually animated characters.

Characters include Ne Zha, reincarnation of the demon orb, born to human parents Li Jing and Lady Yin in a fictional setting called Chentang Pass. He is guided by his master Taiyi Zhenren and along the way meets Ao Bing, a reincarnation of the spirit pearl and third son of Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea. Ao Bing, on the other hand, is trained by Taiyi's martial arts brother, Shen Gongbao. Newcomers in the movie are Wuliang, an immortal leading the Chan sect, Deero and Crana, lieutenants of Wuliang in exorcising the demons in the human world, Shen Xiaobao, Shen Gongbao's younger brother, Shen Zhengdao, their father.

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NGFB
NGFB - 5/8/2025, 1:31 AM
China has 1.4 BILLION people. The United States at 340 million. Of course a popular movie over there is going to break all kinds of records. I'm only surprised it took this long to happen.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 5/8/2025, 1:33 AM
Chaina says trump
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 2:55 AM
@Malatrova15 - trump loves ne xha
NGFB
NGFB - 5/8/2025, 1:41 AM
Total gross of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: 31 Billion
Total gross of the Ne Zha Universe: 2.6 Billion
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 1:49 AM
@NGFB - the marvel defender energy is strong on this one.

Just so you know, this is a trial article for me if I use the same twisting logic that other writers have here.

I hope it doesnt get deleted though
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 5/8/2025, 2:01 AM
Vectorsigma, the Allsgood of Ne Zha
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 2:21 AM
@ProfessorWhy - proud of it

This just a test article if i put in that Josh Wilding energy to my writing.

You can check my other articles for my actual style.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 5/8/2025, 6:39 AM
@vectorsigma - You realise how childish that sounds, right? You don't become a good writer by trying to ape someone else. And if this is meant as your take on that recent Avengers box office post, you're parodying the wrong person - I didn't write it.
Yellow
Yellow - 5/8/2025, 7:06 AM
@JoshWilding - they let anyone write for this site now?

Because It's like to make an article about how Eurovision lasted more years than the whole MCU combined.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 5/8/2025, 7:36 AM
@Yellow - The song contest?! Abba and all that?
Yellow
Yellow - 5/8/2025, 7:39 AM
@ObserverIO - Abba, Celine Dion, Måneskin.

The cultural impact is way bigger than the MCU and Ne Zha combined.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 5/8/2025, 7:56 AM
@Yellow - ...that's... probably true. I ain't ever heard of Måneskin, sounds like a He-Man villain.

I do believe that Eurovision, the MCU and Ne Zha 2 all owe a great debt to the Egyptian Mystery Theater of ancient times though, which I think has had a way bigger impact on our culture than all three combined.
Where would we be without the great story of how Osiris was killed by Set and then reborn in Isis' thigh?

Leg births are indirectly responsible for Celine Dion's singing stances and the story of a hero's rebirth has directly inspired both Ne Zha and the MCU (Vision was reborn through Wanda in WandaVision, he may have been gestating in her leg for all we know... hell I would've gestated in her leg if given the choice, seems like a really nice place to be a gestating ghost robot fetus).
NateBest
NateBest - 5/8/2025, 11:14 AM
@vectorsigma - "Just so you know, this is a trial article for me if I use the same twisting logic that other writers have here."

I'm unclear on what this means... It makes me think it's basically a trolling post?
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 12:00 PM
@NateBest - not in the least. Just similar in structure as the others have written.

Everything here are facts, just with the usual spin i see here.
NateBest
NateBest - 5/8/2025, 12:07 PM
@vectorsigma - Thabks for the clarification 👍

Nite that I updated the source link as I didn't see any ties to Variety in the post...

You should also change the banner image as pulling one from online without permission of the owner is copyright infringement.
Yellow
Yellow - 5/8/2025, 12:09 PM
@NateBest - It's the most obvious troll article the site ever had, come on
NateBest
NateBest - 5/8/2025, 12:13 PM
@Yellow - Is it trolling if it's backed up with facts and figures (although not necessarily taking into account the bigger oicture with populations, inflation, etc.)?

Technically, I guess it depends on the intent...
Yellow
Yellow - 5/8/2025, 12:30 PM
@NateBest - so under that same idea...I can make an article about how Eurovision had more cultural effect than the MCU and Ne Zha?

I can make it with facts and figure too.
NateBest
NateBest - 5/8/2025, 2:26 PM
@Yellow - Absolutely. It's a user-contributed platform, so as long as it follows the Content & Quality Guidelines, you can post it.

Note that simply creating a post/article doesn't mean it will show up on the homepage...
Yellow
Yellow - 5/8/2025, 2:51 PM
@NateBest - well if this one got to the homepage I assume anyone can, so i'll give it a shot
NateBest
NateBest - 5/8/2025, 4:37 PM
@Yellow - LoL! This one won't be making it to the homepage 🤓
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 9:21 PM
@NateBest - np. I know already prior to writing this.

But what can you say about similar articles that make it to the homepage?

@Yellow - lolz. We see similar articles almost everyday and you got hurt because of this one just because it is a marvel attack piece?
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 9:23 PM
@NateBest - also. Saw it latrle, will update the image
Plamarre
Plamarre - 5/13/2025, 8:14 PM
@NateBest - hey Nate, what’s the best way to contact you? I need help with something and I have no idea how to message you and get a response.
NateBest
NateBest - 5/14/2025, 1:56 AM
@Plamarre - There's an option in the dropdown on the "Contact" page (https://comicbookmovie.com/about/contact/)!
Plamarre
Plamarre - 5/14/2025, 7:25 AM
@NateBest - yeah, I did that days ago
NateBest
NateBest - 5/14/2025, 4:00 PM
@Plamarre - Odd... Maybe it got lost in the shuffle? I get a LOT of email, so I wouldn't be surprised :o(

I would try and resend, or add me as a friend here and you can send messages through the site messaging system.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/8/2025, 3:03 AM
User Comment Image
JacobKarr
JacobKarr - 5/8/2025, 3:45 AM
Propaganda article for a propaganda movie
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 3:47 AM
@JacobKarr - lolz, dont be hurt. Im just spinning stuff as it is the norm here
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 5/8/2025, 7:38 AM
@vectorsigma - Ooh them commies and their agendas!
User Comment Image
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/8/2025, 12:02 PM
@ObserverIO - 😂

them commies promoting filial piety in Ne Zha 2. The nerve!
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 5/8/2025, 12:08 PM
@vectorsigma - 🤣🤣🤣
Reginator
Reginator - 5/8/2025, 5:42 AM
Don’t give a shit about some Chinese cartoon
Yellow
Yellow - 5/8/2025, 7:13 AM
Eurovision made more money than the MCU and that chinese cartoon

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