‘Ne Zha 2’ vs. ‘Captain America’: A Cultural Box Office Battle

The recent box office clash between China’s animated sensation “Ne Zha 2” and Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World” has ignited a cinematic rivalry between to massive movie powers.

“Ne Zha 2,” an animated film following a little boy with magical powers, has shattered records, amassing over 12.4 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) domestically, surpassing Disney’s “Inside Out 2” to become the highest-grossing animated film globally.

This unprecedented success has been bolstered by patriotic fervor, with Chinese companies and organizations subsidizing tickets and organizing group viewings to promote the film since gaining its recent title as highest-grossing animated film.

However, Chinese audiences have expressed disappointment with the underrepresentation of “Ne Zha 2” in North American theaters, promising to undercut the success of “Captain America: Brave New World” in return.

As a result, “Captain America: Brave New World” has underperformed in the Chinese market, earning a modest 87.1 million yuan in its opening week, according to Reuters. A cinema in southwest China even opted to forgo showing the Marvel film in favor of supporting the domestic blockbuster.

The Global Times, a nationalist Chinese tabloid, attributed the lukewarm reception of the Marvel movie to incompatible values between Hollywood movie makers and the world’s second largest film market, including individual heroism and a loyalty to political correctness over a coherent narrative.

On the other hand, various Chinese media argue that “Ne Zha 2”’s departure from these values is what sets it apart from other movies being premiered, as the story demonstrates “cultural uniqueness”.

This cinematic face-off indicates a broader shift in China’s cultural landscape, where domestic productions are being increasingly celebrated, reflecting a desire for cultural narratives that resonate with local audiences.

Source: Tovima.com