At just three years old, he became a billionaire actor and set multiple industries ablaze.
As of February 9, data shows the total box office revenue of China’s animated film Nezha 2 has surpassed 8 billion yuan. This achievement not only sets a new record for domestic animated films in China but also fuels a cross-industry synergy between “mythological IP” and the cultural tourism economy.
Cultural Tourism Destinations
With the film’s soaring popularity, searches for cultural tourism destinations associated with Nezha landmarks—such as Yibin in Sichuan and Tianjin—have surged significantly.
According to Tongcheng Travel, since the release of Nezha 2, searches for hotels, scenic spots, and other tourism-related activities linked to Nezha have increased more than fivefold year-on-year as of February 9. Fliggy data further reveals that between February 1 and February 7, searches for Nezha-related destinations—including Yibin, Jiangyou, and Tianjin—experienced a substantial month-on-month increase. Yibin saw a 225% rise, while Jiangyou recorded an astonishing 453% surge.
Blind Boxes
Beyond its impact on tourism, Nezha has also ignited a consumer frenzy in the collectibles market.
In January, Pop Mart launched the “Nezha: The Devil Boy Havoc in the Sea – Natural Bond Series” blind box figures, which generated over 10 million yuan in sales within just eight days. Currently, both in-stock and pre-sale editions have sold out rapidly. On second-hand platforms, some blind box figures have more than tripled in prices.
The demand extends beyond figures. Officially licensed merchandise—including collectible cards, film-themed trading cards, refrigerator magnets, badges, and stickers—continues to see soaring transaction volumes. Notably, a crowdfunding campaign by FunCrazy for an official Nezha figure, initially targeting 100,000 yuan, has exceeded 20 million yuan in less than two weeks.
Starting in mid-February, Nezha 2 is set to release in the United States, Japan, Singapore, and other regions. As the only one Asian film among the top 50 highest-grossing movies in global history, anticipation among international audiences is running high.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by Securities Daily、CNS.
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