A Chinese animated film mocked as ‘terrible’ becomes a box-office hit
The new sensation among some Chinese moviegoers is an animated film whose characters appear to have been created with rudimentary 3D animation and have been described as “ugly” and “eerie.” But it…
In China, an animated film called “Niulai” has been dismissed as “terrible” by some viewers but has become a box-office hit. The film, which tells the story of a calf who dreams of a better life with its family, was released on August 5, 2026. Initially, the movie generated minimal revenue, with some screenings earning as little as 200 yuan ($30). Despite this, the film saw a significant surge in its box office after garnering attention from online reviews.
Red Star News reported that the film was a five-year project created by director Xin Yumeng and his mother, Sun Lifan. The low box office numbers initially puzzled many, but it soon skyrocketed to 8.2 million yuan ($1.2 million) within days, totaling 17.1 million yuan ($2.5 million) in revenue. Online reviews on sites like Douban were filled with mocking and bewildered comments, with viewers joking that it was “unbelievably terrible” and a “must-watch for Chinese stock market investors.”
The film’s name, “Niulai,” means “the bull is coming” in Chinese, hinting at a bullish market. A 19-year-old college student in Shanghai confessed that the movie’s makers intended to play a prank on their friends.
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