Movie that went viral for terrible animation becomes China box office hit

What the report says

BBC World News reports that the Chinese animated film Niu Lai has become an unexpected box office success after attracting widespread online attention for its confusing storyline and poor-looking animation. The low-budget film, which centers on a cow in a dream-like sequence, initially performed badly, taking in only 7,705 yuan in its first 10 days after release, according to movie-tracking site Mao Yan.

Since going viral on Chinese social media, however, ticket sales have surged and the film has now earned more than 11.4 million yuan. That performance has kept it competitive with major Hollywood releases, including The Odyssey and Spider Man: Brand New Day, as described in the BBC report. Viewers and social media users have responded with ironic enthusiasm, praising its supposedly “hand-crafted” look and treating the film as a kind of joke hit.

The BBC says cinemas have added more screenings because of the increased demand, even though the movie had little publicity before release. The unexpected popularity has also prompted criticism. A commentary in the state-owned Beijing News argued that theaters risk damaging audience trust if they continue expanding screenings for films widely seen as below standard.

The episode highlights how online ridicule can sometimes turn into commercial momentum in China’s crowded movie market, while also raising questions about what cinemas should prioritize when deciding which films to promote.