The globalbox officehas expanded in recent years, withsome of the biggest movies in the world coming from non-American studios and filmmakers.While most of thehighest-grossing movies of all timehave come from Hollywood, other studios and regions have recently contributed to this list in some surprising ways.
Amidst thehighest-grossing franchiseslikeDespicable Me,Avengers, andAvatar, followers ofthe box office have begun to see more and more films produced in other languages reaping similar figures in their worldwide grosses.This shift has seen movies in languages other than English, likeParasite, becoming a more significant part of global pop culture.
Within this cultural shift, the biggest new contributors to the box office have come from China. TheChinese box officeused to add significantly to American films, butas the nation built up large studios of its own, that landscape has changed.Notably, reporting on these films is done differently, which has caused larger discrepancies in total figures.
10The Mermaid
The Mermaid, orMei Yen Ru, was a co-production between China and Hong Kong that went on to become the highest-grossing non-English international feature ever upon its release in 2016, holding that title until 2019. A harbinger of future success from Chinese cinema,the film tells the story of a Chinese businessman who falls in love with a mermaid assassin.
Blending fantasy, comedy, and romance, the film did an adept job at drawing audiences to the cinema, whereit grossed between $523-553 million at the worldwide box office.The film is remembered favorably and was directed by Stephen Chow, who is best known in the western world for his 2004 filmKung Fu Hustle.
9Detective Chinatown 2
Despite not making much of an impact in America, theDetective Chinatownmoviesare a huge moneymaker in China. While the first movie only pulled in an estimated $120 million,2018’sDetective Chinatown 2was a huge hit, earning $544 million,making it one of the highest-grossing Chinese movies ever.
Set in New York City, the second film in the series saw Qin Feng and Tang Ren teaming up to solve a murder, with a large sum of money hanging in the balance. With sharp wit and great style, this buddy cop comedy was an enormous success and was quickly followed by another sequel.
8Detective Chinatown 3
Improving on the success of its predecessor,Detective Chinatown 3is currently the highest-grossing in the franchise after earning at least $570 million,with some sources listing the film’s total as closer to $686 million. Either way, this Mandarin-language comedy was a huge hit.
Bringing back the characters of Tang Ren and Qin Feng,the movie’s action shifted to Tokyo.With style, charisma, and humor, the movie captured the hearts of Chinese audiences and has since been followed up with a spinoff film entitledDetective Chinatown 1900.
7Full River Red
Full River Redis an excellent period-set thriller and comedy from filmmaker Zhang Yimou. Taking place in the 12th century,the film tells a fictionalized story about the origin of a famous Chinese poem.With humor, intrigue, and stylish costuming, the film went on to become the highest-grossing Chinese movie of 2023.
Full River Redlured in many different audiences, andit wound up earning $581-670 million.The movie used suspense and charismatic characters to tie in with historical mystery, which helped the film connect especially well with patriotic sensibilities.
6The Wandering Earth
Based on a novel by Cixin Liu, the mind behind the immensely popularThree-Body Problemnovel and subsequentNetflix series3 Body Problem,The Wandering Earthsaw a scientifically-grounded story about astronauts attempting to move their planet.As the sun expands in the story’s distant future, moving through the solar system becomes necessary.
The Wandering Earthreceived a sequel in 2023 entitledThe Wandering Earth II, which also performed well, although box office receipts are less clear. Its earnings are reported as ranging between $517-615 million.
Tense, exciting, and filled with great visuals, the film was a massive hit in China, earning between $610-699 million.This was China’s first big science-fiction blockbuster,and is worth seeing for its creativity, its performances, and its incredible design. Bolstered by a smart script, the film has since launched a franchise.
5Ne Zha
Ne Zhais an excellent animated feature from 2019 by Jiaozi that would go on to become a worldwide sensation. At the time of release,it represented a sea change in Chinese animation by crafting a high-quality animated feature specifically for Chinese audiences,with a unique blend of humor, heart, and folklore, alongside strong and creative imagery.
Despite only pulling in $3 million in the West,Ne Zhawas a huge hit in China. The movie made an incredible sum, withreports indicating a gross of between $726-742 million,making it China’s biggest animated film ever at the time. It has since been followed by a spinoff entitledJiang Ziyaand a sequel released earlier this year.
4The Battle At Lake Changjin
With a budget estimated at around $200 million American,The Battle At Lake Changjinis the most expensive Chinese movie ever made.Fortunately, the film’s earnings, between $808-902 million worldwide, justified this cost, making the war drama into one of the most successful movies the country has yet produced.
With a fictional story structured around the real-world Korean War events of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir,the film was an inspiring story with some historically dubious choices.While it connected strongly with patriotic audiences, it also received some criticism and controversy for its historical inaccuracies.
3Wolf Warrior 2
Wu Jing is a humongous star in China,and the success of films likeWolf Warrior 2, which he co-wrote, directed, and starred in, attests strongly to his appeal.The film is about Leng Feng, a retired Chinese soldier, who is drawn back into his violent life when innocent people are put in danger.
The 2017 movie was enormous,grossing $815-870 million worldwide. Featuring strong action and a familiar setup,Wolf Warrior 2delivered an exciting experience that resonated well with international audiences, despite earning less than $3 million in the US and Canada.
2Hi, Mom
Hi, Momis among the biggest films China has yet released, telling the story of Jia Xiaoling asshe travels back in time from 2001 to 1981 following her mother’s tragic death.Upon arriving in the past, she strikes up a sisterly friendship with her younger mother, attempting to set her up for a better life.
The film begins as a charming comedy, but moves into huge emotion, bolstered by powerful performances. This fun premise and substantial script allowed the film to become one of the highest-grossing movies of 2021,earning more than $839 million at the global box office.
1Ne Zha II
There are so many greatreasons to watchNe Zha II, which is now reported to be among the biggest films of all time. Witha total gross reported between $1.9 and $2.15 billion, the film has certainly become one of the top 10 highest-grossing movies of all time. Having earned only $20 million domestically, this is a staggering feat.
Ne Zha II’s new English dubwill certainly allow the new film to add even more to its earnings. Telling a fantasy story about Ne Zha, who is brought back to his physical form to fight against a new threat,the film’s heart, humor, and incredible visuals have endeared it to audiences.
While most of the movie’sbox officesuccess has come from China, international territories have begun to pay attention.Ne Zha IIis now among the most discussed films of 2025in addition to its box office, and for good reason: it is a fun and accessible film that feels new, exciting, and fresh. Hopefully, more like this will follow.
