Memes Fuel Surprise Box-Office Win for Niu Lai
An obscure Chinese animated film, Niu Lai, known for rough 3D visuals and sharp online mockery, unexpectedly surged at the box office after its Aug. 5 release, rising from about 10,000 yuan in the first 10 days to 17.1 million yuan total as memes and curiosity drew crowds; the project was reportedly created over five years by two people, and some viewers praise its simple, bedtime-story charm despite the controversy.