Hong Kong’s moviegoers are gearing up for an animated epic that’s about to set the city ablaze! Today, February 27, 2025, the countdown hit fever pitch for tomorrow’s hotly anticipated premiere of Ne Zha 2, the sequel to the 2019 smash that redefined Chinese animation. With theaters decked out in fiery red posters, ticket kiosks buzzing like a Lunar New Year rush, and a certain comedy king adding fuel to the hype, this mythic blockbuster’s poised to conquer Hong Kong’s box office—and maybe a few hearts—starting February 28.
The excitement’s been building all week, but today it hit a whole new level. Cinemas across the city—from Causeway Bay’s glitzy multiplexes to Mong Kok’s packed screens—are reporting pre-sale numbers that’d make even the Monkey King jealous. “We’ve sold out six screenings already,” beamed a manager at Emperor Cinemas, juggling phone calls and a line of eager fans. “People are booking for midnight shows—it’s Ne Zha mania!” And why wouldn’t it be? The first film, I Am Nezha, raked in over HK$5 billion globally, and this follow-up’s promising bigger battles, wilder visuals, and a rebellious hero who’s ready to flip the heavens upside down again.
Adding a dash of Hong Kong flair to the frenzy, Stephen Chow—the city’s own king of comedy—stoked the flames earlier this week with a playful Nezha cosplay that’s gone viral. Spotted in a spiky red wig and armor at a promotional event, Chow’s cheeky nod to the fire-tipped troublemaker has fans howling and scrambling for seats. “Stephen’s a genius,” laughed one ticket holder outside the Grand Cinema today. “If he’s hyping Ne Zha 2, you know it’s going to be epic!” Whispers of a cameo from the Shaolin Soccer legend are swirling, though the film’s team is staying coy.
Directed by Yu Yang and backed by Beijing’s Light Chaser Animation, Ne Zha 2 picks up where its predecessor left off, plunging the pint-sized deity into a cosmic showdown with dragons, gods, and his own destiny. Early reviews from its mainland China debut last month rave about jaw-dropping CGI—think swirling storms and spear-twirling chaos—paired with a story that’s equal parts heart and havoc. “It’s louder, bolder, and somehow deeper,” teased a critic who caught a press screening. “Hong Kong’s going to eat this up!”
Theaters are pulling out all the stops for tomorrow’s launch. Special 4D screenings at MCL Cinemas promise rumbling seats and gusts of wind to match Ne Zha’s fiery antics, while select venues are hosting cosplay contests before the lights dim. “I’ve got my Nezha spear ready,” grinned teenager Alex Ho, decked out in homemade armor outside Kowloon’s Broadway Cinematheque. “This is our Avengers moment!” Families, teens, and animation buffs alike are flocking to join the fun, turning opening day into a citywide celebration.
Industry watchers are already predicting a knockout weekend. “It’s got universal appeal—action for the kids, myth for the adults, and that Hong Kong love for underdog heroes,” noted a local film analyst today. With the Lunar New Year buzz still lingering, Ne Zha 2 could smash records and cement animation as a heavyweight in the city’s cinematic ring. Distributors are banking on a regional ripple, too, with screenings locked in from Taipei to Singapore.
As the clock ticks down to tomorrow’s first showtimes, Hong Kong’s caught in full-on Ne Zha fever. Whether you’re there for the spectacle, the laughs, or Stephen Chow’s cheeky wink, one thing’s for sure: this pint-sized rebel’s about to light up the big screen like a firecracker in the night sky. Get your tickets—this is one mythic ride you won’t want to miss!
