A low-budget, homemade animated film has suddenly become a box office hit in mainland China, which analysts said has reflected the public’s aversion to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) control over film and propaganda.
“Niu Lai,” released on Aug. 5, was initially mocked for its poor production quality and grossed a mere 7,169 yuan ($1,067) in its first nine days in cinemas nationwide. However, a clip of the movie went viral and sparked the Chinese public’s curiosity, drawing audiences to theaters and ultimately sparking a nationwide conversation about the rejection of state-backed, slickly marketed “mainstream” films and artificial intelligence.
As of Aug. 21, 2026, “Niu Lai” had grossed over 30 million yuan ($4.46 million) at the box office since its release, and is projected to total 135 million yuan by Chinese film industry data platform Maoyan. …
Homemade, Low-Budget Animated Film Becoming Box Office Hit in China Challenges CCP Control Over Cinema: Analysts
