China’s first fully AI-generated feature film, “Sanxingdui: Future Past,” opens in cinemas, but multiple outlets report a lukewarm public response and weak advance ticket sales. The sci-fi thriller is being tested at the box office despite wide release plans.
Outlets highlight that screening schedules are substantial: at least 10,000 showings are listed for its opening day on the ticketing platform Maoyan. However, figures on presales and forecasts point to limited early momentum. One report also notes the scale of production and development, describing long production time and a reported cost of more than 10 million yuan.
Across coverage, the main differences are the degree of emphasis on box-office numbers versus production details, and how strongly the story links the film’s performance to broader expectations for China’s tech and film industries. Overall, the accounts broadly agree on the film’s AI status, release timing, and that ticket sales are underwhelming.
