China’s inaugural AI-made movie opens to weak ticket sales

China launched its first completely AI-generated feature, “Sanxingdui: Future Past,” across over 10,000 screens on Friday, but audience enthusiasm appears limited. Ticket-selling platform Maoyan reported presale revenue of roughly 65,000 yuan and expects total earnings to stay below 100,000 yuan, far short of the more than 10 million yuan spent on production. Jiang Defu, chief executive of Bona Film Group, acknowledged the modest reception but emphasized the film’s pioneering status as the first AI movie to receive a theatrical release permit.

The production involved nearly 100 staff members over two years. Critics like Iris Yang, who saw a complimentary preview, said the quality would not have warranted a paid ticket, while independent AI director Zhang Jun warned that novelty alone will not drive cinema attendance. The story reflects broader Chinese interest in AI-generated short videos, which amassed over 200 billion views on Douyin in September, yet the transition to paid theatrical experiences remains uncertain.