The viral Chinese animated film Niu Lai (The Cow is Coming) earned over $3 million despite its initial box office failure. Critics noted low production quality, including unnatural animation, choppy 3D models, and a weak storyline.
The film was created by a man and his mother over five years. Reports indicate that only $200 was spent on production, and in the first nine days of release, it brought in 7,169 Chinese yuan, equivalent to $995. However, the situation changed drastically after clips from the film spread across social media.
Niu Lai went viral because many viewers described it as a film 'so bad it's good.' Other users highly praised the team's efforts, stating they prefer watching films made by human hands, regardless of quality, rather than those produced with artificial intelligence.
According to various reports, the film was created by Dalian Jingyuan Culture Film and Television Media. This company previously specialized in interior design but began exploring animation in 2021. Only two people worked on Niu Lai: Xin Yumen (the son), who served as the director, and Sun Lifan (the mother), who handled the scriptwriting.
Representatives of Dalian Jingyuan Culture Film and Television Media told Chinese media that they warned Yumen against releasing the film, but the director insisted, claiming he had spent five years working on it.
The film has gained international recognition, which could potentially lead to a global release. According to available information, Niu Lai is scheduled to be shown in Singapore on September 1, 202, as part of a tour through Southeast Asia.
