Negativity Turned This Disaster Film Into A Blockbuster

Article by Kumar Published on: 2:27 pm, 20 August 2026

In the age of social media, even negative publicity can sometimes work like magic. A recent example is the Chinese animated film Niu Lai, which has become a surprise box-office success despite being heavily trolled after its release.

Made by a mother-son duo on a shoestring budget of around $1,000, the film was initially ignored by audiences. However, things changed when clips from the movie started going viral online.

Viewers mocked its poor animation, visuals, and amateur narrative. Instead of hurting the film, the criticism sparked curiosity as people began buying tickets just to see why everyone was trolling the film.

In no time, the film became a social media sensation, with memes helping it reach a wider audience. Now, this tiny independent film has crossed the Chinese collections of films like The Odyssey and Obsession. What began as a laughing stock turned into one of the biggest surprise success stories of the year.

When it comes to Telugu cinema, one can remember Sampoornesh Babu’s Hrudaya Kalyyam, which was initially trolled for its promos but was watched by many to see what kind of troll material was showcased in the film.