{
  "id": 2477713,
  "title": "‘So bad it’s good’: Rough animated film Niu Lai becomes surprise Chinese hit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/so-bad-its-good-rough-animated-film-niu-lai-becomes-surprise-chinese-2477713",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hong Kong Free Press - China",
    "slug": "hong-kong-free-press-china",
    "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/08/22/so-bad-its-good-rough-animated-film-niu-lai-becomes-surprise-chinese-hit/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The low-budget Chinese animated film Niu Lai, which translates to \"Here Comes the Cow,\" began as a crude and mocked project but has since become a surprise viral hit. The film, created by a mother and son over five years, tells the story of calf Niu Lai and earned around 7,000 yuan ($1,000) in its opening week. It quickly surged to 33.06 million yuan ($4.92 million) at the Chinese box office. The movie's unpolished style, stiff 3D characters, and awkward dialogue have captivated audiences, with fans embracing its imperfections. The film's success has led to a surge in merchandise, including T-shirts, figurines, and boxer shorts. Critics have praised the film's roughness and absurdity as part of its appeal, comparing it to eating refined grains and then enjoying some coarse grains for a change. The film's success highlights the popularity of animated films in China, with one expert noting that it offers a refreshing contrast to more polished productions.",
  "summary": "A low-budget Chinese animated film that was widely mocked for its crude visuals became a viral hit, with people packing cinemas to see just how bad it is. “Niu Lai”, which translates to “Here Comes the Cow”, earned around 7,000 yuan ($1,000) in its opening week from August 5, before surging to 33.06 million yuan […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "‘So bad it’s good’: Rough animated film Niu Lai becomes surprise Chinese hit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/so-bad-its-good-rough-animated-film-niu-lai-becomes-surprise-chinese",
        "published": "2026-08-22T01:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}