The Latest Breaking News from Niu Lai

$71 to $9 million: how a mocked Chinese animation became an unlikely box-office hit

Niu Lai (牛来) (2026), meaning “Here Comes the Cow/Bull”, is an 86-minute, crudely animated feature made by a self-taught mother-son duo from China.

The Conversation · Aug 27

Animation is having a punk rock moment – and it says a lot about how people view AI

The Chinese are lining up to watch a terrible cartoon: why?

Creative Bloq · Aug 25

'Niu Lai', the 'so bad it's good' Chinese cartoon becoming a box-office hit

An amateur animated film has become a surprise box-office hit in China, fuelling a wider debate about cinema, artificial intelligence and audience tastes. Made by a mother-and-son team on a shoestring budget, Niu Lai went from commercial failure to viral sensation after attracting a wave of negative reviews.

Radio France Internationale · Aug 23

'Niu Lai': How is a 'disaster-level' Chinese animated film rivalling 'The Odyssey' at the box-office?

A low-budget and shoddy-looking animated film has emerged as this summer’s most unexpected box-office hit in China. Here’s how ‘Niu Lai’ has transformed online mockery into big bucks and a viral phenomenon.

Euronews · Aug 18

‘Bad in every aspect’: derided low-tech animation Niu Lai rivals blockbusters at Chinese box office

Commentary about the ‘so bad it’s good’ qualities of mother and son’s movie has driven people to see it at cinema

The Guardian - UK · Aug 17

Niu Lai aka The Ox Comes: Made for $47 by two people over 5 years, this Chinese animated movie is so bad that people started buying tickets just to watch it. It has now earned close to $1 million

The animated film 'The Ox Comes' from China has taken the internet by storm, captivating audiences with its uniquely crude computer-generated graphics. Initially struggling at the box office, its ticket sales have surged thanks to viral clips of its low-quality animation. This phenomenon showcases how social media can shape the…

The Economic Times · Aug 16