China’s AI Film Fails at Box Office
China’s first fully AI-generated film struggles with low ticket sales and mixed public reception.
2 min read
China’s first fully AI-generated feature film, ‘Sanxingdui: Future Past,’ opened in cinemas on Friday, facing a challenging box-office reception. Despite more than 10,000 scheduled screenings, advance ticket sales have lagged significantly, with presale revenue reaching only 80,000 yuan ($11,980) as of Friday morning. Total box-office takings are expected to remain below 150,000 yuan, a fraction of the reported production cost of over 10 million yuan ($1.5 million).
AI-Generated Film Faces Skepticism
The film, produced by Bona Film Group, features AI-generated actors, voices, and backdrops. Jiang Defu, CEO of Bona Film Group, acknowledged the lukewarm reception in a recent interview, stating that the film is pushing boundaries as the first to receive a theatrical release permit. However, audience feedback has been less than enthusiastic.
Iris Yang, who attended a free preview screening, expressed disappointment with the film’s quality, stating she would not have paid for a ticket. She suggested that AI-generated films must match the theatrical experience of ‘Avatar’ to gain public acceptance. Online, Chinese social media users also voiced skepticism, with one Weibo user commenting that people are not willing to pay for AI-generated films if they can watch them for free on streaming platforms.
AI in Chinese Entertainment
AI-generated video has gained popularity in China, with AI-generated short dramas on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, garnering over 200 billion views in September alone. However, the transition to theatrical releases has proven difficult, with independent AI director Zhang Jun noting that the audience won’t automatically pay for tickets just because a film is AI-generated.
Meanwhile, in Hollywood, the rise of AI has sparked concerns about job losses. An AI-generated sci-fi film, ‘Gods Don’t Give Gifts,’ is set for a U.S. release on December 4, and a virtual Hollywood actor, Tilly Norwood, is set to star in an upcoming movie called ‘Misaligned.’ These developments highlight the growing influence of AI in global entertainment, even as it faces resistance from audiences and industry professionals alike.
Source: Breitbart
