A Chinese animated film mocked as ‘terrible’ becomes a box-office hit
A low-budget Chinese animated film titled 'Niu Lai' has become a surprise box-office hit after gaining viral attention for its poor quality. The film, created by a mother and son, saw a massive surge in ticket sales despite scathing reviews.
Why it matters
It illustrates the 'so-bad-it's-good' phenomenon in digital culture and how negative social media sentiment can paradoxically drive commercial success.
A man walks by a drawing poster promoting a Chinese animated film "Niulai" on display with other movie posters at a cinema in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (AP Photo/Andy Wong) A child looks at a drawing poster promoting a Chinese animated film "Niulai" on display with other movie posters at a cinema in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (AP Photo/Andy Wong) China Movie 1 of 2 A man walks by a drawing poster promoting a Chinese animated film "Niulai" on display with other movie posters at a cinema in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (AP Photo/Andy Wong) The new sensation among some Chinese moviegoers is an animated film whose characters appear to have been created with rudimentary 3D animation and have been described as "ugly" and "eerie."
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