Low-budget Chinese CGI Cow Film Sets Record for Profitability

A mother-son duo in China spent five years crafting a low-budget CGI animation about a cow, investing only $200 and no professional experience. Distributed by a family acquaintance, the film debuted on 245 screens before being trimmed to four, earning $995 on its first day and soon gaining viral attention for its crude visuals and unsettling character eyes. Social media sharing sparked nationwide curiosity, leading to a box-office total of $6.7 million, which the state-run one outlet says makes it the most profitable movie ever, at about 33,500 times its cost.

The movie lacks any official poster, prompting fans and theater staff to hand-draw promotional art, while unofficial merchandise and memes have spread online. International interest is growing, with bootleg copies shown in San Francisco and even a KFC Spain tweet featuring the film’s imagery. Experts note the phenomenon highlights a unique cultural export driven by internet virality rather than traditional marketing.