A Chinese dragon dance and martial arts are performed before the premiere of Ne Zha 2at the TCL Chinese Theatre as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations on Saturday. (RENA LI/CHINA DAILY)
The Hollywood premiere of the blockbuster animated film Ne Zha 2turned the TCL Chinese Theatre into a vibrant celebration of Chinese culture over the weekend.
Featuring a dragon dance, martial arts performances and a showcase of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, the event on Saturday drew an international audience to the iconic location on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The sequel to Ne Zhais titled Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea, or Ne Zha 2.
Georges Chamchoum, executive director of the Asian World Film Festival, expressed deep appreciation for the cultural evolution of Chinese cinema, noting that the industry has shifted from old-fashioned productions to a more diverse and open expression of the country's culture.
"I think China has been doing forever good movies," Chamchoum told China Daily. "It's good to see that China is more open to show other kinds of movies, because a movie is the reflection of a country."
Ne Zha 2, based on Chinese mythology and the classic novel Investiture of the Gods, follows Ne Zhaand his friend Ao Bing, born with supernatural powers from the Chaos Pearl. In the sequel, the duo face off against the Dragon King of the Four Seas and his army of sea creatures to protect their village.
The premiere was a significant moment for the film's international release, according to Gong Bohan, manager of the International Distribution Department at CMC Pictures, which manages the film's overseas distribution.
"It was also the first film to be released simultaneously at the TCL Chinese Theatre during the Chinese New Year celebrations," Gong told China Daily.
"We combined the film's red-carpet premiere with a showcase of China's intangible cultural heritage, allowing tourists from all over the world on the Walk of Fame to immerse themselves in Chinese culture," Gong said.
The film's success is already making waves globally. In China, Ne Zha 2has broken box office records by becoming the first film ever to surpass $1 billion in a single market.
Released on Jan 29 for the Chinese New Year, Ne Zha 2has grossed an astounding RMB 8 billion ($1.1 billion) in just 12 days, surpassing the $935 million earned by The Force Awakens in the U.S. for the single-market record.
A Chinese dragon dance and martial arts are performed before the premiere of Ne Zha 2at the TCL Chinese Theatre as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations on Saturday. (RENA LI/CHINA DAILY)
The North American market's pre-sales are promising, according to Gong. He confirmed that Ne Zha 2will have a special IMAX 4D preview screening at TCL Chinese Theatres on Feb 12, with the official release scheduled for Feb 14.
"The film, which has already broken Chinese box office records and is approaching 10 billion yuan, is on track to rank among the top 20 highest-grossing films worldwide," Gong added.
Robert King, a Hollywood film producer, praised the film's success in China and its cultural significance. He suggested that Ne Zha 2could be a contender in multiple categories, including foreign film and animation.
"This little rascal Ne Zhawould resonate with Hollywood," King told China Daily, adding that Ne Zha 2is "an extraordinary experience for China".
Meanwhile, King emphasized the cultural significance of the film, noting that it aligns with the TCL Chinese Theatre's efforts to foster cultural exchange.
"This film represents box office success in China, but I see it holding even greater cultural value in the message the premiere aims to deliver to Hollywood," King said.
Shawn Barrett, vice-president of XR Immersive Design at TCL Chinese Theatres, also lauded the film's animation, calling it "fantastic", and saying "it was a really top-quality film".
Barrett suggested that for broader American appeal, the film should be dubbed in English. "It has to be dubbed in English, then the American public would come," he added.
Barrett also recognized the significance of the TCL Chinese Theatre, formerly called Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a historic site known for starting the red-carpet tradition. He suggested that a Chinese cultural center could be established there to promote further cultural exchange.
Praising the movie as "unbelievable", Oscar-winning producer Andre Morgan, who produced Million Dollar Baby, also weighed in on the film's U.S. marketing potential. "If this movie is marketed in the U.S. much more quickly, its impact will be even greater," Morgan told China Daily.
He recommended creating short YouTube videos highlighting Chinese cultural elements in the film, which could help American audiences better understand and appreciate the movie.
In recent years, China's rapid economic growth and technological competition with the West have coincided with a resurgence in national pride and a revival of traditional culture. That has led to the retelling of ancient stories using modern digital technology, calling for high-tech collaboration in the film industry.
Li Zhiqiang, Chinese deputy consul general in Los Angeles, who attended the premiere, highlighted the increasing cooperation between the Chinese and American film industries.
"In recent years, China and U.S. film cooperation has continued to deepen, producing many successful examples that not only allow both peoples to share rich cultural achievements but also inject new momentum into mutually beneficial collaboration," Li said, adding that more American audiences would understand China through films like Ne Zha 2and strengthen mutual friendship between the two nations.
