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…
Niu Lai, an 86-minute Chinese animated film, has defied expectations to become a surprise box-office hit. The film follows a calf and a skylark as they form a friendship in a surreal, dreamlike world, unfolding through abstract encounters rather than a traditional narrative. With just two people involved in its creation, Sun Lifang and his mother Xin Yumeng, the film's low budget and quality initially raised doubts about its success.
Released on August 5 without a marketing campaign, the movie garnered minimal attention during its initial release, earning only 7,700 yuan in its first 10 days. However, it was the film's reputation for poor quality that sparked curiosity and curiosity turned it into a viral sensation on Chinese social media. Rather than being deterred by its perceived inadequacies, viewers flocked to cinemas to experience the film firsthand, ultimately contributing to its box-office success.
Despite being primarily a Chinese release, there are plans for an international screening in Singapore on September 1.
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