China’s first fully AI-generated feature film has opened in cinemas amid weak advance ticket sales, raising questions about whether the country’s growing enthusiasm for artificial intelligence will translate into demand for AI-made movies.
Sanxingdui: Future Past, a science-fiction thriller, began its theatrical run on Friday, with more than 10,000 screenings scheduled, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
However, advance sales remained low. By Friday morning, presale revenue stood at 80,000 yuan (about $11,980), while the film’s projected total box-office earnings were below 150,000 yuan — a small fraction of its reported production cost of more than 10 million yuan ($1.5m).
Produced by Bona Film Group, the film took more than two years to make, with nearly 100 people involved in its production. Its actors, voices and backdrops were all generated using AI.
Bona Film Group chief executive Jiang Defu acknowledged the muted reception but described the project as a pioneering effort in bringing AI-generated cinema to theatres.
“We are the first to try it, the first to get a theatrical release permit, and the first to be tested by the audience,” he told Chinese film industry outlet Yuli.
The film explores humanity’s place in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. But its technical novelty has not convinced all viewers that it is worth paying to watch.
Iris Yang, who attended a free preview screening on Thursday, said she would not have bought a ticket given the film’s quality.
“If AI generation can match the theatrical experience of ‘Avatar’, I think I would be willing to pay for it,” she said, referring to the Hollywood franchise known for its visual effects.
The lukewarm response contrasts with the popularity of AI-generated video content in China. On Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, AI-generated short dramas attracted more than 200 billion views in September alone.
Independent AI director Zhang Jun said that online popularity did not necessarily translate into cinema revenue.
“The audience won’t automatically pay for the tickets just because it’s an AI-generated film,” he told AFP.
Some Chinese social media users also expressed reservations about paying to watch AI-generated movies in cinemas, suggesting that free online access would be more appealing.
The debate comes as the use of AI in film production raises concerns about the future of jobs in the global entertainment industry. In Hollywood, workers have warned that the technology could threaten employment opportunities.
An AI-generated science-fiction feature, Gods Don’t Give Gifts, is scheduled for release in the United States on December 4. Virtual Hollywood actor Tilly Norwood, whose online interviews have fuelled concerns about AI replacing human performers, is also set to appear in an upcoming film, Misaligned.
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