(Yicai) July 1 -- Animation blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has stopped screening in Chinese cinemas after more than five months breaking box office records, becoming the fifth highest-grossing movie ever.

Ne Zha 2 raked in more than CNY15.9 billion (USD2.2 billion) in the Chinese mainland over its five-month run, according to data on analytics platform Maoyan Pro.

Based on that figure and Box Office Mojo’s lifetime grosses chart, only four other movies have out-grossed Ne Zha 2 -- namely Avatar (USD2.9 billion), Avengers: Endgame (USD2.8 billion), Avatar: The Way of Water (USD2.3 billion), and Titanic (just under USD2.3 billion).

The film premiered on Jan. 29, the first day of this year's Chinese New Year holiday, and ended its theatrical run yesterday. Screenings of the movie, which is based on ancient Chinese myths, were extended four times after it received an overwhelmingly positive reception, with the latest starting on June 1. Movies typically run for only a month in cinemas.

In the process, Ne Zha 2 became the first movie to gross over USD1 billion in a single market, the highest-grossing animation flick, and the most-watched film in China with 324 million cinema admissions.

The third installment of the Ne Zha series will be made with even higher standards, executives from Beijing-based Enlight Media, the production company behind the movies, said on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s investor interaction platform last month.

In addition, Ne Zha 2's blockbuster run has led many Chinese cities to propose collaborations on Ne Zha-themed parks, the executives noted, adding that the company is in talks with several.

Ne Zha 2's investors and producers can pocket CNY38 to CNY39 (USD5.30 to USD5.45) from every CNY100 (USD14) taken at the box office, or around CNY33 after costs such as distribution fees are deducted, Enlight Media Chairman Wang Changtian said at the Shanghai International Film Festival last month.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev