First ever! Domestic AI hyper-realistic film hits theaters

What happened: The AI hyper-realistic film "Sanxingdui: Future Past" opened in Chinese theaters, the first such film to receive a National Film Administration release permit. It runs 100 minutes with all-original digital characters. Key numbers: First-day box office 301,500 yuan; cumulative 401,000 yuan; projected total 2.078 million yuan. Why it matters: The box office is far below the animated hit "Niu Lai," which opened at 34.2 million yuan. The content frames paid willingness as the psychological barrier AI films must cross before theatrical success.

The AI hyper-realistic film "Sanxingdui: Future Past" opened in Chinese theaters, the first such film to receive a National Film Administration release permit. It runs 100 minutes with all-original digital characters.

The box office is far below the animated hit "Niu Lai," which opened at 34.2 million yuan. The content frames paid willingness as the psychological barrier AI films must cross before theatrical success.