Niu Lai animated film becomes viral box-office hit in China

The Chinese animated film ‘Niu Lai’ (The Bull Comes) has become a massive box-office phenomenon, reportedly becoming one of the most profitable movies ever relative to its production budget. Created by a mother and son duo, Xin Yumeng and Sun Lifang, the film was produced over five years with an extremely low budget estimated between $200 and $1,000.

Despite its crude 3D animation, awkward dialogue, and unpolished visuals, the film went viral on social media. Audiences have flocked to cinemas to see the film, often described as ‘so bad it’s good.’ Many viewers have praised the project for its human touch and the fact that the creators did not use artificial intelligence to complete the work.

After a slow start with minimal earnings, the film’s box office revenue surged to approximately 33 million yuan (roughly $4.3 to $4.9 million). This success has triggered secondary cultural trends, including the creation of memes, toys, and hand-drawn promotional posters by theater employees.