China’s “Terribly Made” Movie Niu Lai is Becoming a Box Office Hit

TLDR: “Poorly-made” Chinese animated film Niu Lai is funnily scoring big at the box office.

Niu Lai (Here Comes The Cow), a new Chinese animated film, has faced harsh criticism for its unconventional visuals, with some viewers describing the animation as ugly, eerie, and poorly made.

Directed by Xin Yumeng and produced by a company with roots in interior design, the film initially attracted ridicule and even calls for cinemas to remove it from screenings.

Instead of disappearing, however, Niu Lai unexpectedly became a viral sensation.

Right now, there is no official confirmation as to whether Niu Lai will be coming to the big screens in Malaysia. However, there are a lot of similar comedic movies from China coming. Check out TGV Cinemas coming soon for the latest upcoming movies!

The Unlikely Turnaround of Niu Lai After Slow Start

The film earned only around 10,000 yuan during its first ten days in cinemas, with some individual days generating as little as 200 yuan. As clips and jokes about the movie began spreading online, curiosity quickly transformed into ticket sales.

By Monday, Niu Lai had surged to 8.2 million yuan in daily box office revenue, bringing its cumulative total to approximately 17.1 million yuan.

The unexpected momentum has pushed the film into the conversation around China’s highest-grossing animated releases of 2026.

Why Did Niu Lai Suddenly Become Popular?

Much of the film’s success appears to come from the very qualities that originally attracted criticism. Audiences have embraced its rough, handmade visual style as something distinctly different from increasingly polished studio animation and AI-generated imagery.

Some moviegoers are recommending the film as a joke or challenge for friends, while others genuinely appreciate its unusual low-budget charm. Social media clips have further fuelled curiosity, with many viewers simply wanting to discover for themselves just how unconventional the film really is.

A Five-Year Passion Project

Niu Lai was reportedly created over five years by Xin Yumeng and Sun Lifang, described as a mother-and-son filmmaking team. The pair were heavily involved throughout the production process, including writing, voice work, and other aspects of bringing the animated feature to life.

Not everyone has welcomed the film’s sudden popularity. Chinese media commentary has questioned whether cinemas should continue screening films perceived to fall below professional production standards, warning that doing so could potentially affect audience trust.