Making ‘Ne Zha’ great in America

Audience members attending a screening of ‘Ne Zha 2’ in New York City. — AP

A GROUP of Chinese fans in the United States decided that China’s biggest movie should make a big splash overseas – literally. So they went ahead and made it huge.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, more than 100 people packed into an IMAX screening room at a cinema outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

Many were Chinese students or young professionals, and some came with their children dressed as the film’s characters.

Others donned traditional Chinese outfits, posed with red-tasselled spears and swords, and signed their names onto a giant scroll to receive hand-painted tickets styled like ancient Chinese art.

The movie? Ne Zha 2, an animated blockbuster from China that recently dethroned Inside Out 2 as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, raking in close to US$2bil (RM8.8bil).

Outside China, though, Ne Zha 2 hasn’t made much noise. And that’s exactly what the people behind this screening want to change.

In Chinese folklore, Ne Zha is a beloved figure: a mischievous boy-god from the classic novel Creation of the Gods, written some 400 years ago.

In Ne Zha 2, that myth is brought to life in a visually stunning, patriotic fantasy film that’s captivated audiences in China – but struggled to reach screens abroad.

One fan, 27-year-old student Sun Bohan in Baltimore, wanted to watch the film in IMAX. But all local screens were booked with Captain America: Brave New World, which premiered on the same day.

Sun discovered that the only way to see Ne Zha 2 in IMAX was to rent an entire theatre – something well beyond his student budget.

So, he posted on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform, and created a WeChat group. The response was immediate.

More than a hundred people joined in, each helping in their own way.

Among them was Raye Xia, a fan of manga, anime and games who had already seen the film four times.

She hand-painted special tickets for the screening, illustrating Ne Zha sitting atop a dragon beneath the cherry blossoms near Washington DC’s Jefferson Memorial.

“It’s really rare to see such events in a small town,” said Xia, who also cosplayed as one of the film’s characters. “I love that I’m helping in my own way.”

Another participant, Hoff Xu, a student in Baltimore, stayed up until 3am crafting her costume from copper wire, binder clips and old clothes.

“It’s not easy for everyone to come together like this,” she said. “So I wanted to add something extra to the immersive experience.”

Their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Attendees queued up to take photos with the cosplayers, soaking in the sense of shared pride and celebration.

“As a Chinese person, I feel proud to see a Chinese film ranking in the top 10 globally,” said Zhao Yuanyuan, who brought her seven-year-old son Jiang Wei’en to see the film for a second time. “I hope he can carry forward our traditional culture and never forget where he comes from.”

But for many, the event was about more than just a film.

The shared experience of advocating for and watching Ne Zha 2 became a meaningful way for members of the Chinese community in the US to reconnect in person after years of pandemic-related isolation.

That bond is especially important in a time of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Chinese communities in the US have expressed growing anxiety about discrimination and exclusion, says Belinda He, assistant professor of Sinophone cinema and media studies at the University of Maryland.

“The emotional connection could easily outweigh the aesthetic impact of the film itself,” she said. “The more intense the structural exclusion, the more people seek out real connections and a sense of belonging.”

Sun’s screening in Maryland wasn’t a one-off. Similar grassroots showings have taken place across the country – in Indianapolis, Boston and New York City.

In New York, Ma Ruoyuan, 31, who works in finance, and a friend organised two screenings that drew around 600 attendees in total.

Volunteers helped with everything from booking seats to scanning tickets. The group even voted on ticket prices in their WeChat chat group.

Ma believes the rare chance to see Ne Zha 2 on IMAX is what “brought everyone together”.

According to IMAX Corp, based near Toronto, high demand means studios must book screens many months, even a year, in advance.

The company said Ne Zha 2 initially screened on 80 US IMAX screens on Feb 12, expanding to 110 after Captain America ended its run.

“IMAX created opportunities to play Ne Zha 2 across its network in the United States, while honouring prior commitments,” the company said in a statement.

Back in China, the film is seen as more than just entertainment.

It has been labelled a patriotic movie, with screenings organised by state bodies, businesses and influencers.

In one instance, an entire courthouse staff in Shandong province was sent to view the film “to strengthen their belief in the rule of law and draw strength for progress”, according to the court’s official WeChat post.

The movie also received government funding: media reports say its producers were granted 15 million yuan (RM9.2mil) by the provincial government of Sichuan as part of an arts initiative tied to poverty alleviation.

CMC Pictures, the international production company involved in Ne Zha 2, declined to comment.

As for Sun, who spent the night before the screening baking cookies for attendees, the event was proof that one idea – and a little initiative – can rally a community.

“I started as just one person,” he said after the screening, “but people with different skills all came to help. It was worth it.” — AP