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, a Chinese animated film, shattered box office records with $1.3 billion in just two weeks in China, becoming the country's top film. Directed by Jiaozi, it follows a young deity defying destiny to protect his people.

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

Animated film Ne Zha 2 broke several records, including one held previously by Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, as it continued its domination in the Chinese box office over the lunar new year holidays.

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.