DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Animated film 'Cow Come' becomes viral hit in China despite poor quality

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • The animated film "Niu Lai" (Cow Come) has unexpectedly become a viral sensation in China, despite widespread criticism of its poor quality.
  • Initially released with minimal screenings and dismal box office returns, the film gained traction through online mockery and memes.
  • Its newfound popularity led to a surge in screenings and box office revenue, though some theaters reportedly stopped showing it, citing concerns about its impact on the local image.

A peculiar phenomenon is unfolding in China's film industry, where the animated movie "Niu Lai" (Cow Come) has inexplicably become a viral hit, drawing comparisons to the adage that "in China, a country so large, anything strange can happen." The film, initially panned for its abysmal quality, is now being discussed as a potential record-holder for return on investment, baffling audiences and critics alike.

The film's origins trace back to 2021, when a mother and son in Dalian, who had run an interior design company for years, decided to venture into animation. They submitted a story about a calf's growth to the government, received approval, and began producing the 3D animation themselves. The son handled directing, modeling, editing, and voice acting, while his mother wrote the script, performed voiceovers, and sang the end credits song. After passing censorship in 2024, the film secured a theatrical release permit.

China is a great country, so large that anything strange can happen.

— NetizenA netizen's comment on the social media platform Threads, describing the unexpected popularity of the film.

Despite a distributor friend's strong advice against releasing it due to its poor quality, the son insisted, "We worked so hard to make it, and it passed censorship." Consequently, "Niu Lai" premiered in a handful of theaters nationwide on August 5th, with a disastrous opening day. However, by August 14th, as clips of its flawed animation and nonsensical plot began circulating online, the film unexpectedly became a trending topic. This sparked a wave of curiosity-driven viewings and meme-making, causing its single-day box office revenue to skyrocket to over 100,000 yuan (approximately $13,700 USD) the next day.

The film's trajectory took another strange turn when some theaters in Dalian were reportedly told to stop showing it. When patrons inquired, cinema staff allegedly cited concerns that the film, made by Dalian natives, could negatively impact the city's image. Despite its initial struggles, "Niu Lai," independently produced by director Xin Yumeng and his 60-year-old mother, Sun Lifang, over five years with zero pre-release promotion, has seen its cumulative box office earnings climb past 2 million yuan (approximately $275,000 USD) and continue to rise.

We worked so hard to make it, and it passed censorship.

— Xin YumengThe film's director, explaining his insistence on releasing the movie despite its perceived quality issues.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog