BEIJING: China’s first fully AI-generated feature film, *Sanxingdui: Future Past*, began its theatrical run on Friday, but early ticket sales were modest despite more than 10,000 screenings being scheduled, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
By Friday evening, the film had earned nearly 290,000 yuan (about $43,425), with total box-office revenue projected at roughly 390,000 yuan—well below its reported production cost of more than 10 million yuan. Tickets were priced between 20 and 90 yuan.
The sci-fi film took more than two years to produce, with nearly 100 people involved. Bona Film Group said its cast, voices and settings were generated using AI. Company CEO Jiang Defu acknowledged that audience response had been muted, but described the release as a pioneering effort.
Some viewers said the technology was not yet convincing enough to justify a cinema ticket. One attendee at a preview screening said she would consider paying if AI films could deliver an experience comparable to *Avatar*. Another moviegoer, who went out of curiosity, said AI still fell short of human-made productions. An AFP reporter counted just four people at one Friday screening.
AI-generated short dramas have attracted large audiences online in China, but industry observers cautioned that interest in the technology does not automatically translate into paid cinema attendance. Social media reactions were similarly sceptical, with some users saying they might watch AI films on streaming platforms but would not currently pay for a ticket.
The release comes amid wider debate over AI’s impact on film workers. An AI-generated sci-fi feature, *Gods Don’t Give Gifts*, is scheduled to open in the United States on December 4, while virtual actor Tilly Norwood is set to appear in the upcoming film *Misaligned*.
