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AI Film Faces Tough Box Office Test
23 Oct
Summary
- China's first AI-generated film struggles with low advance ticket sales.
- The sci-fi thriller cost over 10 million yuan but has minimal presale revenue.
- Despite AI's popularity in short dramas, cinema audiences remain hesitant.
China's inaugural AI-generated feature film, "Sanxingdui: Future Past," opened in cinemas on Friday, 2026-10-23. This sci-fi thriller, the first of its kind to receive a theatrical release permit, is experiencing a sluggish box office performance. Advance ticket sales as of Friday morning were reported at 80,000 yuan, with total takings anticipated to remain below 150,000 yuan, a stark contrast to the film's production cost of over 10 million yuan.
The production, which involved nearly 100 people over two years, utilized AI for all actors, voices, and backdrops. While the film explores themes of humanity in an AI-driven future, audience reception has been lukewarm. Industry insiders note that AI's online popularity, evidenced by over 200 billion views for AI-generated short dramas on Douyin in September alone, does not automatically translate to cinema ticket sales.
This cinematic experiment comes as AI continues to gain traction globally. In Hollywood, AI is also a topic of discussion, with concerns about job displacement among film workers and upcoming AI-driven releases like "Gods Don't Give Gifts" and a film featuring a virtual actor. The cautious reception in China suggests a significant hurdle for AI-generated content in traditional film distribution channels.
