Top 10 Highest Grossing Chinese Movies of All Time: From Ne Zha 2 to Detective Chinatown 3

China’s film industry has surged to the forefront of global cinema, evolving from a regional powerhouse into a titan of international box office success. Over the past decade, the country’s cinematic achievements have shattered records, redefining the boundaries of storytelling and audience engagement. With a booming domestic market—now the largest in the world by screen count and second only to Hollywood in revenue—Chinese films have captivated millions by blending cutting-edge production, cultural richness, and narratives that resonate deeply with local and global viewers alike.

Blockbusters like Ne Zha 2 (2025), The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021), and Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) dominate the charts, earning billions of yuan and showcasing China’s ability to craft high-octane spectacles rooted in patriotic themes. These films not only reflect the nation’s growing economic clout but also its ambition to project soft power through entertainment, challenging Western dominance in the global film arena.

The highest-grossing Chinese movies of all time reveal a fascinating tapestry of genres, from historical epics and war dramas to animated fantasies and heartwarming comedies. Titles like Hi, Mom (2021) and Ne Zha (2019) highlight the industry’s versatility, proving that audiences crave both nostalgia-driven stories and innovative reimaginings of folklore. Government support, coupled with massive investments in cinema infrastructure and digital streaming platforms, has fueled this golden age, enabling filmmakers to push creative boundaries while catering to a vast, discerning viewership.

As Hollywood grapples with shifting trends, China’s box office triumphs underscore a seismic shift in cultural influence—one driven by homegrown talent, technological prowess, and an unyielding connection to the nation’s identity. Exploring these record-breaking films offers a window into China’s cinematic ambitions and its quest to shape the future of global entertainment.

List of Highest Grossing Chinese Movies of All Time (China Box Office Collection)

Here is the list of the highest-grossing Chinese films worldwide (Chinese global box office collection).

1. Ne Zha 2 (US$2.02 billion)

Ne Zha 2 grossed US$2.02 billion against a production budget of US $80 million, the film broke multiple box-office records inside and outside of China. The film became the highest-grossing film in a single box office territory in its domestic market China, and globally became the highest-grossing animated film and the highest-grossing non-English language film, being the first non-English language film to gross over $1 billion and $2 billion, and the first animated film in history to hit the $2 billion mark. It also ranks as the highest-grossing film of 2025 and the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time.

On 5 February 2025, The Battle at Lake Changjin was displaced by Ne Zha 2 as the highest-grossing Chinese movie and highest-grossing non-English film of all time.

It serving as the sequel to Ne Zha (2019), and the third film in Enlight Pictures’ Fengshen Universe after Ne Zha and Jiang Ziya (2020). It was written and directed by Jiaozi, who also wrote and directed the first film. Like its predecessors, the film is loosely based on Chinese mythology stories and the 16th-century Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi) while also containing several creative differences.

2. The Battle at Lake Changjin (US$913 million)

The Battle at Lake Changjin has earned a total of CN¥5.77 billion ($913 million). It is the second-highest-grossing film of 2021 and the second highest-grossing Chinese film of all time.

It’s war drama film co-produced and co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam, written by Lan Xiaolong and Huang Jianxin, and starring Wu Jing and Jackson Yee. The film depicts the story of the North Korea-allied Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, forcing U.S. forces to withdraw in a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.

3. Wolf Warrior 2 (US$874 million)

Wolf Warrior 2 is an action film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Wu Jing, who also stars in the lead role. The film features Celina Jade, Frank Grillo, Hans Zhang, and Wu Gang, serving as a sequel to Wolf Warrior (2015). Released in China on 27 July 2017, the story follows Leng Feng, a skilled but rebellious Chinese soldier who embarks on global special missions. In this installment, he finds himself in an African nation, protecting medical aid workers from local rebels and ruthless arms dealers.

The film received praise in China for its patriotic storyline, action sequences, special effects, and strong performances. It became a massive commercial success, holding the title of the highest-grossing Chinese film until 2021. Wolf Warrior 2 set multiple box office records, including the highest single-day gross for a Chinese film and the fastest to reach RMB 2 billion, 3 billion, 4 billion, and 5 billion. It was also the quickest film to surpass US$500 million and the first to cross US$600 million at the Chinese box office. With a total gross of US$874 million, it remains one of the highest-grossing Chinese films of all time.

4. Hi, Mom (US$841.7 million)

Written, directed by, and starring Jia Ling, the film co-stars Zhang Xiaofei, Shen Teng, and Chen He. Marking Jia Ling’s directorial debut, it is a semi-autobiographical fantasy story about a young woman who is unexpectedly transported back to 1981, where she meets her mother and forms a deep bond of sisterhood with her. The film explores themes of familial love, maternal devotion, and filial piety.

With a box office gross of US$841.7 million, the film became the third-highest-grossing film of 2021, the third-highest-grossing non-English-language film of all time, and the highest-grossing film by a solo female director until Barbie in 2023. It received widespread acclaim, with strong word of mouth contributing to its success. The film also earned prestigious accolades, including the honor of Excellent Film at the 36th China Popular Film Awards and the award for Excellent Feature Film at the 19th China Huabiao Awards.

5. Ne Zha (US$742.8 million)

Ne Zha is an animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Jiaozi, with animation produced by his own studio, Chengdu Coco Cartoon. The film features the iconic Chinese mythological figure Nezha and is loosely based on the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin. The story follows a young boy, Ne Zha, born from a heavenly pearl by the Primeval Lord of Heaven, Yuanshi Tianzun. Gifted with extraordinary powers, he is feared and shunned as an outcast. Prophesied to bring destruction, Ne Zha must decide between good and evil to defy his fate and become a hero.

Despite being the debut feature of both its director and animation studio and lacking widely recognized voice actors, Ne Zha received critical acclaim and became one of the most commercially successful films in Chinese cinema. It set multiple box office records, becoming the highest-grossing animated film in China, the highest-grossing non-U.S. animated film worldwide, and the second-highest-grossing non-English-language film globally at the time of its release. Earning over $742.8 million, it ranked as the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of the year and the fifth-highest-grossing film in Chinese cinema history.

6. The Wandering Earth (US$701 million)

Science fiction film directed by Frant Gwo, loosely based on the 2000 short story of the same name by Liu Cixin. The film stars Wu Jing, Qu Chuxiao, Li Guangjie, Ng Man-tat, Zhao Jinmai and Qu Jingjing. Set in the far future, it follows a group of astronauts and rescue workers guiding the Earth away from an expanding Sun, while attempting to prevent a collision with Jupiter.

On release, it topped the worldwide box office with a 3-day opening weekend gross of $172,718,000 and a 6-day opening gross of $289,090,290. The film grossed $701 million worldwide. It is China’s sixth highest-grossing film of all time and the fifth highest-grossing non-English film to date.

7. Detective Chinatown 3 (US$686.2 million)

It is a sequel to Detective Chinatown 2 (2018) and is the third installment in the Detective Chinatown series directed and written by Chen Sicheng, starring Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran.

The film set several box office records, including the biggest opening weekend ever in a single territory, and grossed over US$686.2 million, becoming the highest-grossing non-American R-rated film of all time. It is also the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2021 and the sixth-highest-grossing non-English film of all time.

8. Full River Red (US$673.5 million)

Directed by Zhang Yimou, and stars Shen Teng and Jackson Yee, alongside Zhang Yi, Lei Jiayin and Yue Yunpeng. The film is based on a meeting between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty. It tells the story of a group of righteous men who sacrificed their lives to eradicate evil. Among them, the characters Zhang Da played by Shen Teng and Sun Jun played by Jackson Yee also have their own mysterious color, which makes people imagine endlessly.

Full River Red made US$60 million on its opening day and US$181 million in its first three days, coming in behind The Wandering Earth 2. In just 8 days, the film had made over US$465 million. The film grossed US$673.5 million, became the highest grosser of 2023 Chinese New Year and the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2023.

9. The Battle at Lake Changjin II (US$626.6 million)

War drama film co-produced and co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam, written by Lan Xiaolong and Huang Jianxin, and starring Wu Jing and Jackson Yee. It was produced by the Bona Film Group in light of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

The film is the sequel to The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021). It is a fictionalized retelling of the fighting at Funchilin Pass during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir against American forces in the Korean War. The film had grossed US$626.6 million worldwide.

10. The Wandering Earth 2 (US$589.5 million)

The Wandering Earth 2 is a science fiction action-adventure film directed and co-written by Frant Gwo, and starring Andy Lau, Wu Jing, and Li Xuejian. The film is a prequel to the 2019 film The Wandering Earth, which is based on the short story of the same name by Liu Cixin, who serves as the film’s producer.

The film earned close to US$70 million on its opening day on January 22 in China, followed by US$55 million on its second day. In total, it made US$187 million in its first three days In just 8 days, the film had earned over US$378 million with US$31.3 million coming from IMAX shows. The film has grossed $589.5 million, making it the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2023.

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