China’s worst animated movie has become an anti-AI box-office hit

China's most criticized animated film, Niu Lai, has turned into a surprisingly popular anti-AI sensation at the box office. The bizarre-looking movie, which premiered on August 14, initially only made 7,352 yuan ($1,000) at the box office, a number so low for a nationwide theatrical release that many assumed it had been entered incorrectly.

As clips of its stiff characters, glitchy animation, and surreal plot spread online, mockery quickly turned into curiosity, and people began flocking to see the movie despite its obvious flaws.

Niu Lai, also known as The Bull Comes or The Cow Is Coming, follows a newborn calf struggling to stand and embarks on a dreamlike journey filled with encounters with other animals and a wolf attack. The story aims to teach lessons about courage, friendship, and sacrifice. However, its execution has been widely panned by viewers, with low-detail 3D models, stiff movements, and characters clipping through one another being some of the main criticisms.

Amateur Chinese director Remo Zhu, a 34-year-old landscape designer with no formal training in animation or directing, created Niu Lai alone. He started developing the film in 2021, spending five years learning the filmmaking process while working with limited resources. Despite the technical challenges, Zhu's lack of detail in the animation became a source of amusement for audiences, leading to the film's unusual success.

Initially, the film's lack of a marketing campaign and cheap production cost contributed to its obscurity. However, as word spread about its poor execution, moviegoers began requesting screenings, and theaters complied, leading to packed crowds. The film's communal viewing experience, complete with cow masks and laughter, has turned it into an unlikely hit, generating more than $4 million in revenue and ranking alongside high-profile releases like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.