Niu Lai is a low-budget Chinese animated film about a cow that starred in a dream like story. This movie has gained tremendous popularity among movie viewers this summer. It appears to achieve this success by being weird.

The film, Niu Lai initially flopped at the box office. According to movie tracking platform Mao Yan, Niu Lai only earned 7,705 Yuan ($1,140) in its first 10 days on screen. However, it has gained popularity among viewers, which significantly increased the revenue. The film has surpassed 11.4 million Yuan since its release.

How a “bad” film conquered cinemas

Niu Lai’s popularity boom can be attributed to word of mouth and social media. People are talking about this picture not because it is well made but because it appears to be bad. One of the Weibo users wrote, “You may regret for 80 minutes if you watch it, but if you don’t, you will regret it for life.” This particular type of buzz appears to make the film more desirable. The movie competes with Hollywood giants like The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, earning box office profits.

Viewers are fascinated by crudely made films

The film’s initial reception was underwhelming. The animation appeared to be crude, the characters were unappealing, and the storyline was incomprehensible. However, this has changed dramatically over the last week. Some netizens described the film as “pure handmade,” others referred to it as the most significant “dark horse” of the summer movie season.

This movie’s sudden success can be related to the increasing viewers’ fatigue from AI generated content. One of the Weibo users expressed delight that the film is not made with artificial intelligence, “That’s some serious craftsmanship.”

Cinemas scramble to meet demand

Niu Lai had almost no promotion before its release and there is no official poster of the film. When the viewers started talking about the film, the cinema managers jumped at the opportunity to add it to their schedules. In one case, employees are reported to have designed their own posters.

Chinese films tracking account Weibo described the film’s performance as “unprecedented.” The film’s popularity boom compared to the competition for Hollywood films may have become a lasting “pop culture legend.”

Success sparks controversy

The film’s surge in popularity appears to have sparked mixed reactions. According to the recent edition of Beijing News, cinemas risk alienating moviegoers by constantly promoting cheaply produced films. This practice has led to the film being labeled as “wasteful.”

It is still unclear if or when the film will peak. The discussion on the issue has triggered a greater debate about whether a cinema needs to offer high-quality movies to sustain business.

Business Fortune believes that until then, Niu Lai keeps surprising moviegoers and earns profits at the box office.

 

FAQs

What is Niu Lai?

Niu Lai is a low budget animated film telling a story about a cow and a dream like adventure.

Why is Niu Lai popular?

The film became popular due to its confusing narrative and low quality animation. It gained popularity by being weird.

How much does Niu Lai earn?

Niu Lai only earned 7,705 Yuan in its first 10 days at the box office. However, since then, the revenue has surpassed 11.4 million Yuan.

Does Niu Lai compete with Hollywood films?

Niu Lai appears to compete with Hollywood giants like The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, earning box office profits.

Why do cinemas want to show Niu Lai?

The demand for the film grew due to word of mouth and social media. As a result, cinema owners wanted to capitalize on the film’s popularity.