China’s First AI Feature Film Flops at the Box Office

China First AI Feature Film Sanxingdui Future Past Flops at Box Office

China’s first AI-generated theatrical feature film, the sci-fi thriller Sanxingdui: Future Past, managed just $180,000 at the box office through Monday against a $1.5 million production budget, according to ticketing platform Maoyan and AFP. Produced by Bona Film Group, the movie follows an archaeologist saving a future world enslaved by artificial intelligence. Jiang Defu, the company’s chief operating officer, acknowledged the lukewarm reception in an interview with Chinese film outlet Yuli, describing the project as a necessary experiment. “We are the first to try it, the first to get a theatrical release permit, and the first to be tested by the audience,” Jiang said, adding that the milestone was not easy.

Social Media Reactions and Microdrama Market Disconnect

Audience response across Chinese platforms like Xiaohongshu remained divided. One user wrote that the film completely traumatized them, while another praised the format for lowering costs and enabling storytelling freedom. The theatrical struggle contrasts sharply with China’s booming short-form market. According to Caixin, AI-generated microdramas accounted for over 95% of more than 120,000 releases in the first quarter of 2026, dropping production costs to as little as $3,000. Stanley Rosen, a University of Southern California professor specializing in Chinese film and society, said that public skepticism remains high regarding full-length AI features despite short-form acceptance.

Global Industry Adoption and Studio Hesitation

Filmmakers internationally are integrating artificial intelligence while navigating intense labor scrutiny. U.S. screenwriters and actors went on strike in 2023 partly to demand protections against the use of AI. Major studios utilize models developed by ByteDance and Higgsfield AI, and Netflix released the crime thriller Animals on Oct. 9, directed by Ben Affleck, who acknowledged using AI extensively during a Bloomberg event. Rosen noted that financial losses from the Bona Film Group release will likely cause others contemplating using AI for feature films to tread more carefully unless productions match the visual quality of blockbusters like Avatar or Nezha 2, pointing toward streaming platforms as more viable homes for such content.

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