A low-budget animated film made by just two people, a mother and her son, has turned internet mockery into millions at the Chinese box office.
Niu Lai, an 86-minute feature about a newborn calf in a dream sequence, initially flopped upon release. Having arrived in cinemas with no trailer or publicity, it earned just CNY 7,707 (approx. BD430) in its first 10 days.
The pair spent five years producing the movie, handling everything from writing and directing to animation and voice acting.
As moviegoers mocked its crude graphics, stiff characters, and confusing plot on social media, public curiosity skyrocketed, driving ticket sales past CNY 14.9 million (approx. BD833,000).
Audiences flocked to cinemas to see how “bad” it was, though some praised its raw, handmade aesthetic as a refreshing break from polished, AI-generated content.
Cinemas have since added extra screenings and resorted to displaying hand-drawn promotional posters due to the complete lack of official marketing material.
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