Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering the film industry, but its first BIG theatrical test in China has delivered a disappointing result. Sanxingdui: Future Past, reportedly the first feature-length AI-generated film to receive a wide theatrical release in the country, has flopped badly at the box office.
The sci-fi thriller reportedly collected just $198,000 during its opening week, despite receiving more than 10,000 screenings on its opening day. The film was made on a budget of 10 million yuan (approximately $1.5 million).
Despite the poor commercial response, the makers described the project as an important experiment.
However, audience reactions suggest that the technology still has a long way to go. One moviegoer reportedly said the film’s quality fell short compared with conventionally made movies.
The failure does not necessarily signal the end of AI-generated cinema. China has already seen AI take over a significant portion of short online film production, with reports suggesting that around 95% of micro dramas are now AI-generated.
Meanwhile, the United States is preparing for the limited theatrical release of Gods Don’t Give Gifts on December 4. The R-rated sci-fi anthology, created by YouTuber Gossip Goblin, is being promoted as the first AI-generated feature film to receive a US release.
The failure of China’s first wide-release AI-generated feature film could also serve as a warning for Indian cinema, where AI is increasingly being explored for filmmaking and content creation.
While the technology can reduce production costs and speed up certain processes, it cannot replace strong storytelling, convincing performances, and emotional depth. Indian filmmakers may be tempted to use AI to cut costs or experiment with new formats, but audiences are unlikely to accept films that look technically impressive yet lack a human touch.
For now, Sanxingdui: Future Past has exposed a major challenge for AI filmmaking. Generating an entire movie using technology may be possible, but convincing audiences to pay for the experience is an entirely different game.
