NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 18, 2026Miami-Dade
Low-budget animated film 'Niu Lai' becomes viral box-office hit after being mocked as 'terrible'
The animated film 'Niu Lai' saw its box office revenue jump from as little as $30 a day to $1.2 million on Monday, driven by viral social media mockery and prank-viewing trends. Despite widespread criticism of its rudimentary 3D animation, the film has reached a total box office of $2.5 million.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The film's success highlights a growing trend in Chinese internet culture where audiences flock to 'bizarre' or low-quality media as a form of ironic entertainment and viral meme-sharing.
Key Facts
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Who's Mentioned
personDu Mingxi“19-year-old college student who participated in the trend”personXin Yumeng“Reported creator of the film Niu Lai”organizationAssociated Press“News agency that attempted to verify production claims”organizationRed Star News“Local news website in Chengdu that reported on the film's production”organizationMaoyan“Movie-tracking platform providing box office data”personSun Lifan“Reported co-creator of the film Niu Lai”organizationDouban“Chinese movie-review platform”personZhong Jiaming“Vocational schoolteacher who expressed a positive view of the film”