Overview
- The film opened on October 23, 2026, and ticketing data showed low presales and early box-office forecasts that are only a small fraction of the reported production cost.
- Bona Film Group said nearly 100 people worked for more than two years using ByteDance’s Jimeng tools to generate over 1.2 million images and that the project cost more than 10 million yuan.
- China’s National Film Administration issued a public‑screening license in April 2026, making this the first theatrical release formally cleared as a fully AI‑generated feature.
- Early audience reactions described the movie as stiff and unconvincing and many viewers signaled they would not pay for AI movies yet, while industry figures warned about job losses for extras and voice actors and unresolved copyright rules.
- The release tests a fast-growing domestic AI video ecosystem backed by government funds and platform tools, and its weak commercial start could shape whether studios push AI work toward cinemas, streaming, or more experimental projects next.