The Monkey King 2

Five centuries after Havoc in Heaven, a heavenly mission sets the stage. The Tang Priest is ordered by Buddha to travel west in search of sacred scriptures, a quest that stirs up long suppressed powers. The Monkey King, once confined by his own legend, surfaces and is pulled into the party that guards the sacred cargo. A formidable foe in the form of Lady White schemes to fracture the ensemble, testing loyalties and wits as the team faces beasts, traps, and dazzling battles. The film blends humor with epic action as the unlikely allies learn to trust one another while the destiny of their world hangs in the balance. The stakes rise as ancient powers awaken and time tightens further.

Directed by Soi Cheang and released in 2016, The Monkey King 2 draws on Monkey King tradition rooted in Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West. The film features Aaron Kwok as the Monkey King with Gong Li in supporting roles.

The film grossed $193,677,158 worldwide on a budget of $68,490,000, signaling strong returns for a Chinese fantasy action and underscoring broad international interest across Asia, Europe, and North America. Theatrical performance helped secure sequels and distribution deals in multiple territories.

As part of a wave of large scale Chinese mythic fantasies, The Monkey King 2 pushed advanced visual effects and battle choreography onto the world stage. It highlighted star power from Aaron Kwok and Gong Li and helped renew interest in the Journey to the West legacy among global audiences.

Critics praised the film for its bold mix of action and humor, the performances by Kwok and Gong Li, and its look. It centers on redemption through teamwork, the tension between duty and personal freedom, and the resilience of unlikely allies under pressure even amid relentless battles and mythic imagery.