An unruly Chinese boy who battles dragons and defies destiny has made his way to Western cinema screens after smashing box office records in China.

Ne Zha 2” has earned almost $1.3 billion, becoming China’s highest-grossing movie of all time and the first non-Hollywood film to cross the billion-dollar mark.

Ne Zha 2' has ascended to the pinnacle of the Chinese box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in the country's history.

"Ne Zha 2" shattered Chinese box office records on Thursday, becoming the highest-grossing domestic film ever just nine days after its release. A new poster marks "Ne Zha 2's" record as the highest-grossing film in Chinese cinema history. [Image courtesy of Coloroom Pictures]

The runaway success of “Ne Zha 2” is another sign that Chinese audiences are choosing domestic movies over Hollywood blockbusters.

A Chinese movie about a boy who fights demons and gods alike has become the world’s highest-grossing movie in any single market. With $1.2 billion in box-office revenue so far, “Ne Zha 2,” released Jan.

Animated Chinese blockbuster "Ne Zha 2", based on traditional mythology, has smashed multiple box office records on its way to becoming the country's most successful movie ever.