Sanxingdui: Future Past, China’s first fully AI-generated feature film, premiered in theaters on October 23 but failed to draw crowds despite securing 10,000 screenings on its opening day. Ticketing data from Maoyan showed the sci-fi thriller grossed just $181,000 by Monday, far short of projections for a nationwide rollout. Given its reported $1.5 million production budget, the film’s commercial outlook appears grim.
The plot centers on an archaeologist rushing to rescue a future humanity dominated by artificial intelligence. Bona Film Group, the studio behind the project, stated nearly 100 people contributed over two years, though all performances and visuals were created by AI. Jiang Defu, an executive at Bona, framed the release as an industry milestone in remarks to Yuli, acknowledging the risks of pioneering AI filmmaking for a theatrical audience.
Early reactions have been overwhelmingly negative. A Chinese social media user who attended the film wrote that it “totally traumatized me.” Films released in China must adhere to guidelines set out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), leading to complaints from movie fans in the country that productions are often second-rate, as the messages behind them are blatant CCP propaganda.
Read Also: Thypoch Launches Affordable, Lightweight AF 23mm Lens
Earlier this year, a crude cartoon movie called Niu Lai that was made by a mother and son for a reported budget of $200 became a phenomenal success, raking in close to $10 million at the box office. It appears that part of the film’s success was due to the fact that it wasn’t a “beautifully packaged, mega-budget super-flop,” as one Weibo user calls films made in China.
While AI-generated content dominates China’s short-form entertainment, over 95% of the 120,000 microdramas released in early 2026 were AI-produced, up from almost none the previous year, feature-length films have yet to resonate with audiences. Some microdramas now cost as little as $3,000 to produce, yet skepticism persists about AI’s ability to deliver compelling narratives in longer formats. Internationally, Gods Don’t Give Gifts, an AI-generated sci-fi film, is scheduled for December 4, and virtual actress Tilly Norwood will star in Misaligned.
