MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / FILM
China’s first fully AI-generated feature film has opened in cinemas, marking a new test for artificial intelligence in entertainment. Sanxingdui: Future Past, a science-fiction thriller, began its theatrical release on Friday, October 23.
Akure —
China’s first fully AI-generated feature film has opened in cinemas, marking a new test for artificial intelligence in entertainment.
Sanxingdui: Future Past, a science-fiction thriller, began its theatrical release on Friday, October 23.
However, early ticket sales suggest that public curiosity about artificial intelligence does not always translate into demand for cinema tickets.
The film has drawn attention because AI generated its actors, voices and backgrounds. Its performance could show whether audiences are ready to pay for a feature made with AI-generated elements.
It may also reveal what the technology can achieve and where it still falls short.
More than 10,000 screenings were scheduled for the film’s opening day, according to Maoyan, a Chinese ticketing platform.
By Friday evening, revenue had approached 290,000 yuan, or about $43,000. Maoyan’s forecast put the total at roughly 390,000 yuan.
Those figures were higher than the earlier presales, but remained far below the reported production cost.
Bona Film Group, the company behind the film, said nearly 100 people spent more than two years making it.
The production cost exceeded 10 million yuan, or about $1.5 million. The early figures highlight the financial risk of investing in a new filmmaking method before audiences fully accept it.
AI FILMMAKING AND AUDIENCE DEMAND
The film’s release is an important step for China’s growing AI entertainment sector. Its production team used AI-generated material for the actors, their voices and the backgrounds.
The story also explores humanity in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. However, the project still involved a large team and more than two years of work, showing that AI does not necessarily remove the need for extensive human input.
Bona Film Group chief executive Jiang Defu acknowledged the lukewarm response but described the release as an achievement.
He told Chinese film industry outlet Yuli that the team was the first to try this approach, secure a theatrical release permit and face audience judgement in cinemas.
China already has a large audience for AI-generated video. On Douyin, the Chinese platform similar to TikTok, AI-generated short dramas recorded more than 200 billion views in September, according to reports.
That figure suggests that people are willing to watch AI content online. Nevertheless, online viewing numbers do not prove that audiences will pay to see AI-generated stories on a cinema screen.
THE INDUSTRY’S NEXT TEST
Early audience reactions point to a gap between technological interest and willingness to pay. Iris Yang attended a free preview screening on Thursday.
She said she would not have bought a ticket because she was not satisfied with the film’s quality. However, she indicated that she might pay for an AI-generated production if it could match the theatrical experience of Avatar, the film franchise known for its visual effects.
Her response reflects a wider challenge for producers. New technology can attract attention, but viewers still judge a film by its story, performances, visuals and emotional impact.
AI may help create images or characters, yet those tools do not guarantee a compelling film. If audiences feel the result is weak, the novelty may not be enough to persuade them to buy tickets.
Independent AI director Zhang Jun made a similar point in comments reported by AFP. He said audiences would not automatically pay for a film simply because AI created it.
Some Chinese social media users also questioned whether AI movies were worth cinema tickets. One Weibo user suggested that such content might gain popularity if it were free online.
The early box-office figures should still be treated carefully. They reflect the film’s opening period and forecasts, not its final commercial performance.
Ticket sales may change as more viewers learn about the release, while later reviews could influence interest. Even so, the initial results show that a broad cinema rollout does not guarantee strong demand.
The film arrives as entertainment companies explore ways to use AI in production. The technology can generate images, voices and settings, and may help teams develop ideas or create scenes more quickly.
Supporters believe these tools could reduce some costs and make certain projects possible for smaller studios. However, the actual savings depend on the work required to guide, edit and check AI-generated material.
For that reason, studios will need clear workflows for checking generated scenes, correcting errors and protecting creative rights before releasing AI-made films to paying commercial audiences.
The technology also raises concerns among actors, writers, animators and other film workers. In Hollywood, industry members have warned that wider AI use could threaten jobs or weaken their control over their work.
Questions about consent, ownership, compensation and the use of a person’s likeness remain important as companies experiment with synthetic performers and voices.
Sanxingdui: Future Past has opened a door for AI-generated films in Chinese cinemas, but its early performance offers both a warning and an opportunity.
The production shows that a team can bring an AI-led feature to theatres. However, weak advance sales suggest that audiences remain cautious about paying to watch this kind of content.
The coming weeks will provide a clearer picture of the film’s commercial prospects. Its final box-office total and audience reviews may shape decisions about similar projects.
One release cannot settle the future of AI filmmaking, but it can help producers understand what viewers expect.
Ultimately, audiences are likely to judge AI films by the same standards as other movies. They want engaging stories, convincing visuals and a reason to spend their money.
Artificial intelligence may become a useful filmmaking tool, but it cannot guarantee success on its own. The film’s biggest test is whether technological novelty can become genuine entertainment value.
