China Pulls 15 Million-Yuan Film Niu Lai From Cinemas as Full Cut Lands on YouTube
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 17
China Pulls 15 Million-Yuan Film Niu Lai From Cinemas as Full Cut Lands on YouTube
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 17
Summary
Niu Lai was reportedly removed from Chinese cinemas after grossing nearly 15 million yuan ($2.25 million), even as the full animated film surfaced on YouTube overnight.
342 yuan on opening day and just 236 viewers in its first nine days turned the film into a viral curiosity, with clips of its strikingly low-quality animation driving a rush of ironic ticket sales.
Xin Yumeng, who Chinese reports say handled most production work himself, was cited in at least one account as pulling the film and promising to listen carefully to criticism and improve future projects.
Beijing News said theaters should reject films "not up to standard," while online speculation has widened into questions over whether the project was earnest outsider art or a bid for film subsidies.