Ne Zha II streams on HBO Max after historic box office; critics laud visuals but question storytelling

Ne Zha II has landed on HBO Max for U.S. viewers, following a worldwide theatrical run that wrapped at about 2.2 billion, a figure that places the film among the top earners in Chinese cinema history. The movie, directed by Jiaozi, builds on the 2019 hit and continues the saga of a pint sized warrior deity inspired by the Investitures of the Gods myth. After its international run in early 2025, A24 acquired U.S. distribution and mounted an English language dub led by Michelle Yeoh, bringing the film to streaming audiences on HBO Max.

The plot picks up with Ne Zha and Ao Bing without bodies after the events of the first film. Taiyi forges fresh forms from lotus flowers, but Ao Guang sends Shen Gongbao and an army of demon minions to strike at Taiyi. The clash destroys Ao Bing’s newly forged body, forcing his spirit to inhabit Ne Zha and leaving the two protagonists to share a single body and two conflicting impulses. To obtain a new body, Ne Zha must complete three tasks set by the bulbous headed Immortal Wuliang. A mechanism allows Ne Zha to sleep while Ao Bing takes over the body when a calmer presence is required, and the duo embark on a journey that includes a flying pig, marauding marmots, a demon trainer, and a sequence of escalating set pieces culminating in a megaclash. The runtime clocks in at 145 minutes, and the film packs in a vast array of action, mythology, and spectacle that push the boundaries of animated fantasy.

Visually, the film is described as a standout, with animation that blends high end DreamWorks like visuals with Japanese anime and strong wuxia influences. The look evokes films such as How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, creating a broad spectrum of influences that come together in a vivid, painterly palette. The design team populates the world with a wide cast of creatures and locales, including colossal monster turtles, a shark-man, a jade temple, and landscapes that range from lush forests to wastelands. Crystal Lee voices Ne Zha with a mix of bravado and humor, lending the character a sharp edge even when the world turns increasingly fantastical.

The film's ambition is undeniable and is frequently cited as one of its strongest attributes. The sheer scale and the craftsmanship of action sequences—described as among the most elaborate seen in contemporary animation—have drawn comparisons to top-tier international productions. Yet the expansive approach also has drawbacks. Critics note that the movie’s heavy mythology and dense exposition can render the narrative opaque for casual viewers, and the barrage of set pieces sometimes overwhelms emotional throughlines. In particular, several reviewers point to the internal dynamic between Ne Zha and Ao Bing as a potential source of humor and character tension, but argue that the script struggles to translate that tension into sustained resonance amid the film’s avalanche of imagery and rules.

In a review for Decider, critic John Serba praised the film’s technical virtuosity but described Ne Zha II as a bit much times a million, ultimately advising viewers to skip it if they are seeking a tightly wound plot or a somber, character-driven arc. The assessment underscored the divergence between aesthetic mastery and narrative clarity, highlighting the film as a monumental visual spectacle whose storytelling may not land for all audiences. The discussion around Ne Zha II reflects a broader conversation about how lavish animation can coexist with cohesive storytelling, particularly when drawing on a rich but complex mythic tradition.

For U.S. audiences, HBO Max presents the streaming option, with pricing that reflects the platform’s standard structure. An ad-supported plan runs at 10.99 per month, while an ad-free option is available at 18.49 per month. The service also participates in bundles that can lower overall costs when paired with Disney Plus and other streaming services. Viewers should note that the film is offered with an English language dub, a feature that aligned with the U.S. release strategy to maximize accessibility for a broad audience while preserving the film’s original cultural texture.

Ne Zha II stands as a cultural milestone in animation for its audacious production scale and its place within a box office phenomenon. Its arrival on a global streaming service ensures that a new generation can encounter its visual language, even as critics debate whether the narrative architecture fully sustains the same level of wonder across its sprawling runtime. The film reinforces the ongoing evolution of animated fantasy cinema, where technical prowess and mythic ambition are increasingly fused, for better or worse, in ways that challenge conventional storytelling expectations.