Sanxingdui: Future Past, a science-fiction thriller from Bona Film Group billed as China's first feature made entirely with AI to reach cinemas, opened on 23 October 2026 and has sold few tickets. Takings stood at roughly $180,000 by Monday 26 October, against a budget of about $1.5 million.
“If AI generation can match the theatrical experience of 'Avatar', I think I would be willing to pay for it”
Iris Yang, preview attendee, to The Standard · thestandard.com.hk ↗
The numbers were weak from the start. Presales came to about 80,000 yuan, Maoyan had forecast a total under 150,000 yuan, and tickets cost 20 to 90 yuan. More than 10,000 screenings were scheduled on opening day, yet each took under $20. Nearly 100 people spent over two years on the film, whose actors, voices and backdrops are all AI-generated.
Bona's head Jiang Defu conceded the reception was lukewarm but called the film a worthwhile first experiment, pointing to being first to try, first to win a release permit and first to face an audience. Viewers split: one found it traumatising, another liked its low cost, and a Weibo user said people would only watch it free. Independent AI director Zhang Jun said audiences will not pay simply because a film is AI-made.
Promotional artwork used by Futurism for its report on the film's box-office result
Image: Futurism
A hand-made $200 animation, Niu Lai, earned nearly $10 million, while over 95% of China's 120,000-plus first-quarter microdramas were reportedly AI-made. A USC film scholar says the public accepts AI in short form but distrusts it in big features, and that this loss may make others cautious.
About Sanxingdui: Future Past
The 100-minute film was announced by Bona on Sunday 27 September 2026, with a nationwide opening set for 23 October. Its characters were all original digital creations, with no digital replicas of real actors.
According to the production team, making it took more than 1.2 million source images and over 100 full-film iterations, handled by a team of more than 100 at Bona's AIGMS division. Before its release it had been shown at the Cannes Film Festival and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market, where an international concept trailer was released.
53
AIPopDB score
#12
Chart rank
100 min
Runtime
2026
Released
Next up, the AI feature Gods Don't Give Gifts is slated for a US release on 4 December, and virtual actor Tilly Norwood is set to star in Misaligned.
Image The Standard ran with its report on the film's opening and weak presales
Image: The Standard (HK)
Sources · 3