So-Bad-It's-Good Animated Movie Becomes a Box Office Hit
Newser • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The low-budget Chinese animated film "Niu Lai" (The Arrival of the Ox) has unexpectedly become a box office sensation after initially earning only $1,140 in its first 10 days, now grossing over $1.7 million.
- The film's rise to popularity is driven by viral online clips showcasing its crude visuals and confusing storyline, which audiences find amusing and charmingly "handmade."
- Created by just two people—director Xin Yumeng and scriptwriter/animator/voice actor Sun Lifang—the movie is praised on social media for its non-AI, handcrafted style.
- Despite its cult following, state media outlet Beijing News criticized cinemas for increasing showings, arguing the film lowers audience expectations for quality in filmmaking.
- Some viewers have embraced "Niu Lai" as a quirky cultural phenomenon, with comments suggesting it acts as a lucky charm for the stock market.
