China’s first AI-generated film earns $180,000 in four days

AI-generated film faces mixed box office results

Sanxingdui: Future Past, China’s first feature film created entirely using AI, earned approximately $180,000 in its first four days of release, according to data from The Next Web. The film, produced by Bona Film Group, cost over 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) and had more than 10,000 screenings scheduled on its opening day. However, presales reportedly reached only 80,000 yuan ($11,980) by the morning of its release, and analytics platform Maoyan projected total earnings below 150,000 yuan.

The film’s lukewarm reception was further underscored by reports of sparse audience turnout. AFP noted that just four people attended the screening it observed on opening day. Jiang Defu, Chief Operating Officer and Producer at Bona Film Group, acknowledged the film’s underwhelming performance, describing its reception as "lukewarm."

AI tools and regulatory approval

Sanxingdui: Future Past was created using AI for all its actors, voices, and backdrops, with nearly 100 people working on the project for more than two years. The film leveraged ByteDance’s Jimeng AI tools and ShengShu Technology’s Vidu video model for technical support.

Despite its AI-driven production, the film received a theatrical release permit from China’s National Film Administration in April. Regulators classified it as an animated feature due to the absence of a specific category for AI-generated films.

AI’s growing role in China’s entertainment industry

AI-generated content is already gaining traction in China’s digital ecosystem. In September alone, AI-produced short videos on Douyin garnered over 200 billion views, reflecting the format’s popularity. Chinese cities have also begun subsidizing AI film studios, signaling government support for the technology’s expansion in entertainment.

While audiences have shown acceptance of AI in short-form content, skepticism persists around its use in feature films. Stanley Rosen, a professor at the University of Southern California, noted that longer formats still face resistance from viewers.

The film’s release follows broader trends in AI adoption across the industry. Hollywood studios are reportedly using Chinese AI models like GensPI and Yuli, and another AI-generated science fiction film, Gods Don’t Give Gifts, is set for release in the US on December 4.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

For founders and operators in the AI and entertainment sectors, Sanxingdui: Future Past’s release is a case study in both opportunity and caution. The film’s production cost and regulatory approval demonstrate that AI-driven filmmaking is technically and bureaucratically viable, but its modest box office returns underline the challenges of audience acceptance—especially for feature-length projects.

The film’s classification as an animated feature also reveals a gap in regulatory frameworks for AI-generated content, which could shape how future projects secure approvals. Meanwhile, the popularity of AI-generated short videos on platforms like Douyin suggests that shorter, digital-first formats may be a safer entry point for AI experimentation in entertainment.

For founders building AI tools for filmmaking, the mixed reception of this project underscores the importance of managing expectations around quality and audience engagement. The fact that Hollywood is already adopting Chinese AI models also signals potential market demand, but success may depend on addressing skepticism around longer narratives.

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