Niu Lai: How a 'terrible' Chinese animated film became an unlikely box-office hit
How did a low-budget, low-quality animated film become a surprise smash hit at the Chinese box office ? Niu Lai , which translates to “the cow is coming”, is an 86-minute animation about a calf and a skylark whose relationship develops over the course of an abstract dream sequence. Made by just two people over five years, the film is the work of Sun Lifang and his mother Xin Yumeng, who served as…
A low-budget, low-quality animated film, Niu Lai, has become an unlikely box-office hit in China. The 86-minute film, directed by Sun Lifang and his mother Xin Yumeng, follows a calf and a skylark as they develop an unlikely friendship in a surreal, dreamlike world. The film, which was released on August 5 without a marketing campaign, reportedly made only 7,700 yuan during its first 10 days in cinemas.
However, curiosity about its poor quality turned it into a viral sensation on Chinese social media, leading to sell-out showings in cinemas. Despite its subpar animation and confusing storytelling, Niu Lai has become a box-office success, earning millions of yuan in the process. As of now, the film is only showing in China, but an international release is scheduled for Singapore on September 1.
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