{
  "id": 1924827,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Chinese animated film mocked as 'bad' becomes a box office hit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/showbiz-chinese-animated-film-mocked-as-bad-becomes-a-box-office-hit",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-19T11:53:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/08/1514693/showbiz-chinese-animated-film-mocked-bad-becomes-box-office-hit"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Chinese animated film, Niulai, once considered \"bad\" by some audiences, has unexpectedly become a box office hit. The film, about a calf's dream of growing up with his family, was released on August 5 and received mixed reviews, with many describing its characters as \"ugly\" and \"eerily primitive.\" Despite this, the movie gained traction online, with mocking comments on platforms like Douban and comparisons to internet troll culture. Despite its low initial box office earnings, Niulai saw a surge in attendance, with nearly 300,000 admissions and a total box office of 17.1 million yuan. The film's success has baffled critics and sparked debates about the appeal of rudimentary animation in a market dominated by visually polished movies. Some viewers, like 19-year-old college student Du Mingxi, found the film's simplicity and honesty refreshing, likening it to a bedtime story for children. Despite the critical backlash, Niulai's popularity has proven that sometimes, the unconventional can win audiences over.",
  "summary": "BEIJING: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.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Niu Lai: How a 'terrible' Chinese animated film became an unlikely box-office hit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/niu-lai-how-a-terrible-chinese-animated-film-became-an-unlikely-box",
        "published": "2026-08-19T10:42:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}