--- title: "Ne Zha 2" year: 2025 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/ne-zha-2" fi1m_id: "ne-zha-2" imdb_id: "tt34956443" tmdb_id: 980477 wikidata_id: "Q131937861" fi1m_score: 67 critics_score: 67 critics_reviews: 11 published: "2026-10-05T17:01:15.872018+00:00" updated: "2026-10-05T17:01:16.128850+00:00" region: "IE" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ne Zha 2 (2025) Directed by Jiaozi · 2h 24m · Animation, Action, Fantasy, Adventure ## Identity Ne Zha 2 - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/ne-zha-2 - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** ne-zha-2 - **IMDb ID:** tt34956443 - **TMDB ID:** 980477 - **Wikidata ID:** Q131937861 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34956443/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/980477, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131937861 **Fi1m score: 67** · Critics 67 from 11 reviews *In a sentence:* We would happily look at the pagodas for a while, if everyone could stop fighting > Jiaozi’s animated fantasy gives its battles more care than its storytelling. The movement and detail can be absorbing, but 144 minutes of crowded mythology, crude jokes and renewed combat wear down the pleasure. ## Synopsis Young Nezha (Yanting Lü), Ao Bing (Mo Han), Li Jing (Chen Hao) and Mrs. Yin (Lu Qi) feature in an animated fantasy adventure built around mythology, martial-arts battles and physical comedy. Joseph voices Youth Nezha, while Zhang Jiaming plays Taiyi Zhenren and Yang Wei voices Shen Gongbao. Wang Deshun provides the voice of Wu Liang Xian Weng. Jiaozi writes and directs, with music by Roc Chen, Wan Pin-Chu and Rui Yang. The film runs 144 minutes and carries a 12A certificate. ## Review There is much to enjoy in Jiaozi’s *Ne Zha 2*, and rather too much to get through. Its animated battles are inventive enough to hold the attention even when the story has made following them a chore. At 144 minutes, this is a qualified recommendation for viewers who actively enjoy elaborate fantasy mythology. Anyone hoping the fighting will give them a break from the explanations may discover they need a break from both. Jiaozi writes as well as directs, and keeps adding complications when the existing ones have barely settled. The large cast gives the mythology breadth, but each new relationship asks for attention the film is already spending elsewhere. We can follow a confrontation as movement without feeling equally sure why it matters to everyone involved. Newcomers have work to do, and the film is not always a helpful teacher. The animation is where that effort is repaid. A fight along a watercourse uses the setting to give the action shape, and the mountain of pagodas offers something more interesting to look at than another expanse of anonymous fantasy scenery. We were exhilarated by the watercourse fight because the martial-arts movement had grace as well as force. The detail invites a closer look even while the battles keep our eyes moving, a demanding combination that the images usually manage. Character animation is just as important here as the wide views. Young Nezha is voiced by Yanting Lü, while Mo Han voices Ao Bing, but the animated performances have their own force alongside the voices. Movement gives these figures a presence that the crowded explanations cannot always provide. The film is easier to engage with when it lets physical comedy carry a scene, rather than asking us to keep another piece of mythology in mind. The music by Roc Chen, Wan Pin-Chu and Rui Yang cannot disguise the repetitive pacing. Our fatigue comes chiefly from the succession of battles, rather than any single element of the presentation. Once another bout of combat begins to feel like the expected next item, even inventive action has to work harder to hold our attention. The pacing gives us too little chance to enjoy one sequence before being asked to absorb the next. Nor does the comedy reliably relieve the pressure. The slapstick has an unruly physical energy that suits the animation, but the crude humour becomes another demand on our patience when the plot is already congested. Some of these interruptions could have been dropped without depriving the film of its mischievousness. Its affection for the characters does occasionally come through, which makes it frustrating that so much surrounding business prevents us from settling into their company. Animated fantasy can accommodate complicated mythology; there is no reason to demand that every unfamiliar name be replaced with something reassuringly simple. The difficulty here is how much arrives together, and how seldom Jiaozi lets one dramatic thread command the film for long. Those drawn chiefly to movement, scale and elaborate environments will find plenty worth their attention. For a first encounter, bring some patience for the explanations and do not expect a quiet evening. *Fi1m score 67, published 5 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond positively to Ne Zha 2, with praise concentrated on its detailed animation, inventive action and sheer scale. The reviews repeatedly single out the visual variety, character animation and elaborate battles, even when the storytelling proves harder to enjoy. There is broad agreement that the film offers plenty to look at, though considerably less agreement about how well its drama sustains that spectacle. Reservations centre on dense mythology, an overcomplicated plot and action that can become repetitive or exhausting. The spread runs from enthusiastic recommendations with caveats to mixed responses, rather than outright rejection. Emotional engagement is a particular dividing line: Slant Magazine finds depth in the film’s treatment of hope, love and mutual respect, while The AV Club finds it emotionally underwhelming. The humour also splits opinion, with some reviews enjoying the slapstick and others finding the crudeness a distraction. ## Straight answers **Is Ne Zha 2 worth watching?** *Ne Zha 2* is worth considering for animation and elaborate fantasy enthusiasts, but our score of 67 reflects substantial storytelling and pacing problems. We find real pleasure in the graceful martial-arts movement and detailed settings, though 144 minutes of crowded mythology, crude jokes and repeated battles make this a qualified recommendation. **How long is Ne Zha 2, and what is it rated?** *Ne Zha 2* runs 2h 24m. It is an animation and action film. **Where can I watch Ne Zha 2 in Ireland?** *Ne Zha 2* is not on any streaming or rental service in Ireland at the moment. It is available in 10 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily. **How violent or frightening is Ne Zha 2, and is it suitable for children?** *Ne Zha 2* carries a UK 12A certificate and contains sustained animated martial-arts combat and crude humour, so we would approach it cautiously for younger children. The repeated battles can be exhausting rather than simply exciting; we think it better suits older children and teenagers comfortable with prolonged fantasy action and complicated mythology. **How does Ne Zha 2 compare to Ne Zha?** *Ne Zha 2* is the less welcoming introduction to the mythology; we recommend starting with [*Ne Zha*](https://film.one/film/ne-zha) for its mischievous hero and the parents trying to protect him. Both have lively animation and tiring stretches of action, but the sequel’s inventive battles and elaborate settings come with crowded explanations and repetitive pacing. **Is Ne Zha 2 based on a true story or a book?** *Ne Zha 2* is based on a novel by Xu Zhonglin, rather than a true story. Its crowded mythology takes concentration, but we cannot vouch for its faithfulness to the novel or say that reading the source first makes the film easier to follow. **What should I watch after Ne Zha 2?** After *Ne Zha 2*, try [*Ne Zha*](https://film.one/film/ne-zha) (2019, Fi1m 72): The earlier adventure offers a less abrupt introduction to Nezha’s crowded mythology. Then [*Princess Mononoke*](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke) (1997, Fi1m 88): For mythical conflict whose competing loyalties remain clear even during the fighting; and [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea) (2014, Fi1m 82): Family feeling and folklore, with more room for quiet between the wonders. ### Reviews we read (11) - **IndieWire**, Wilson Chapman (B): Chapman finds the film a visually spectacular epic that is good but held back by excessive length, cluttered pacing, and crude humor. He especially praises the vivid, intricate animation and inventive action sequences. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/ne-zha-2-review-a24-english-dub-1235146468/) - **The AV Club**, Tara Bennett (B): Bennett finds the film visually astonishing but emotionally underwhelming. She praises its richly detailed animation while criticizing its overstuffed story and relentless battles. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/ne-zha-2-review) - **Slant Magazine**, Justin Clark (3/4): Clark finds the sequel’s emotional depth and mythological spectacle compelling, despite its sprawling story and demanding mythology. He especially praises the jaw-dropping action and the third act’s themes of hope, love, and mutual respect. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ne-zha-ii-review/) - **The Guardian**, Phil Hoad (75/100, inferred): Hoad finds the film’s artistry overwhelming, despite a story that could use dramatic improvement. He singles out its dazzling visual range, especially the watercourse fight and the pagoda mountain. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/20/ne-zha-2-review-demons-dragons-and-dazzling-visuals-jiaozi) - **Empire**, John Nugent (70/100, inferred): The review finds the film awe-inspiring and entertaining, though its maximalism can be exhausting and hard to follow. It particularly praises the immense scale of the animation and battle sequences. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ne-zha-2/) - **Screen Daily**, Elizabeth Kerr (70/100, inferred): The review presents the sequel as an energetic, positive big-screen spectacle. It singles out the film’s scale as a reason it is made for the big screen. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ne-zha-2-review-energetic-chinese-sequel-is-the-highest-grossing-animated-film-of-all-time/5202798.article) - **Variety**, Carlos Aguilar (70/100, inferred): Aguilar finds the sequel a breathtaking visual spectacle, though its dense lore and relentless information can overwhelm. He especially praises its character animation, production design, and astonishing action sequences. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/ne-zha-2-review-1236324922/) - **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The page URL identifies this as a review, but its verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be confirmed because access is blocked. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ne-zha-2-chinese-film-review-2025) - **Sight and Sound**, BFI (60/100, inferred): The review finds the story convoluted and difficult for newcomers, though the film’s energetic action and humour make it an engaging spectacle. It praises the rowdy fights and slapstick while noting that the mythology-heavy plot and large cast can be hard to follow. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ne-zha-2-demonic-wunderkind-returns-convoluted-chinese-odyssey) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel visually stunning but chaotic, with an overcomplicated story and repetitive action. The spectacular animation is the main strength, while the cluttered plot and juvenile humor are drawbacks. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ne-zha-ii-review-michelle-yeoh-1236345564/) - **Deadline**, Fred Topel (55/100, inferred): Topel finds the sequel visually engaging but says its elaborate plotting becomes exhausting. He praises the animation and graceful martial-arts battles, while noting that the story’s many added complications can be difficult to follow. [Read](https://deadline.com/2025/02/ne-zha-2-movie-review-1236289763/) ## Details - **Director:** Jiaozi - **Director:** Jiaozi - **Writer:** Jiaozi - **Story:** Jiaozi, Wang Jing - **Novel:** Xu Zhonglin - **Music:** Roc Chen, Wan Pin-Chu, Rui Yang - **Producer:** Liu Wenzhang, Wang Jing - **Cast:** Yanting Lü as Young Nezha (voice); Joseph as Youth Nezha / Jie Jie Shou Left (voice); Mo Han as Ao Bing (voice); Chen Hao as Li Jing (voice); Lu Qi as Mrs. Yin (voice); Zhang Jiaming as Taiyi Zhenren (voice); Yang Wei as Shen Gongbao (voice); Wang Deshun as Wu Liang Xian Weng (voice) - **Runtime:** 2h 24m - **Release (Ireland):** 21 March 2025 - **Genres:** Animation, Action, Fantasy, Adventure - **Budget:** $80 million - **Box office:** $2.27 billion - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETlOSBR92Fs ## Where to watch in Ireland Not streaming, renting or buying in Ireland at the last check. Also available in: AU, CA, ID, IN, MY, NZ, PH, SG, TH, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Ne Zha* (2019), Fi1m 72: The earlier adventure offers a less abrupt introduction to Nezha’s crowded mythology. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ne-zha.md) - *Princess Mononoke* (1997), Fi1m 88: For mythical conflict whose competing loyalties remain clear even during the fighting. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/princess-mononoke.md) - *Song of the Sea* (2014), Fi1m 82: Family feeling and folklore, with more room for quiet between the wonders. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea.md) - *The Thief of Bagdad* (1940): For elaborate fantasy scenery and an adventure that remembers to keep moving. - *Kung Fu Hustle* (2004): Elastic martial-arts comedy that makes outrageous movement part of the joke. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/ne-zha-2