Films for Breakfast

If you’re a weirdo who, like me, can’t resist checking Box Office stats, you probably had the same reaction I did when glancing at 2025’s top earners: “Wait… Ne Zha II made nearly $2 billion worldwide? And what even is Ne Zha?” Admittedly, this speaks more to American ignorance than anything else; I’d never heard of the original Ne Zha, but seeing its sequel outperform even the last Avatar is serious business. With my curiosity peaked, I decided to watch the first film in preparation for the sequel, especially with A24 recently acquiring the English-dubbed rights and releasing it in premium formats this weekend. And honestly? It’s easy to see why it’s such a hit. The original is packed with classic storytelling, gorgeous visuals, and pure entertainment. Yet, as fun as it is, nothing could have fully prepared me for Ne Zha II.

The leap from Ne Zha to Ne Zha II is the kind of jump you rarely see; think Top Gun to Top Gun: Maverick. What starts as a fun but admittedly light and cheesy story transforms into a film with real gravitas, jaw-dropping visuals that rank among the best animation I’ve ever seen, and a genuinely enthralling third act that had me moved by its huge heart while cheering for downright badass character moments. The world these filmmakers have built is utterly mesmerizing, and experiencing it in a format like IMAX 3D turns it into a full-blown visual feast.

The film picks up shortly after the events of the original, with the souls of Ne Zha and Aobing saved, but their physical forms in ruins. In a daring bid to give them new life and alter their fates, Taiyi Zhenren turns to the mystical seven-colored lotus. While the story begins simply, I found myself enjoying it far more than its predecessor early on. Ne Zha’s character is more fully realized this time, with his growth from the first film carried through seamlessly.

Still, it’s Ne Zha’s bond with Aobing that remains the emotional core of the film, alongside his relationships with his parents. Without giving too much about the plot away, the way these connections intertwine with the story’s central threat and the film’s action is where Ne Zha II truly shines. Everything about this sequel feels more personal, more grand, and more epic – on every level.

From this point, the film erupts into a fast-paced epic brimming with visual splendor and jaw-dropping action. What the animation team has achieved is nothing short of extraordinary – the world feels vast, with each set piece distinct and filled with defining shots that are practically destined to be screenshotted forever. The action, in particular, is breathtaking; the fluid, hard-hitting fight choreography had me more excited than most live-action films I’ve seen recently.

My only real gripe with the film is the English dubbing that I saw for this re-release. While I understand it’s a criticism that can only be warranted to this new-found version, I ultimately have to review what I saw – and it really feels like a lazy dubbing on every level. While I don’t expect studios to do as good of a job as Ghibli does, there were a few times here where the inconsistency between the vocal performances and character actions almost took me out of the film. I kept wishing I caught the original cut of the film back when it was released earlier this year.

If I had to offer one more nitpick, it would be that the film runs slightly longer than necessary as there are a few comedic beats that could have been trimmed. But ultimately, these are minor quibbles that never overshadow how spectacular the film is when it’s firing on all cylinders. Ne Zha II is a triumph of the medium, and one of those rare sequels that surpasses the original in nearly every category. I was left slack-jawed by its breathtaking scale, mesmerizing action, and deeper story and character work. It’s absolutely worth the hype.

4/5