Niu Lai (牛来) is a 2026 Chinese animated feature directed by Xin Yumeng and written by Sun Lifang. It was released theatrically in mainland China on August 5, 2026, and public film listings give it a runtime of 86 minutes.
What kind of movie is Niu Lai?
The film is an animated feature centered on a calf named Niu Lai. Public descriptions frame it as a growth story with family, courage, perseverance and sacrifice among its themes. Its presentation and production became more widely discussed than its plot alone after viewers began sharing strong reactions to the film’s visual quality and storytelling.
This site deliberately keeps the plot description high-level. It does not reproduce dialogue, subtitles, scene-by-scene content, stills or promotional artwork.
Production and public screening permit
The National Film Administration’s April 3, 2026 public notice lists Niu Lai under screening permit 电审动字〔2024〕第33号 and names Dalian Jingyuan Culture Film and Television Media Co., Ltd. as the first production company. Separate public reporting identifies Tianjin Yamazaki Film Co., Ltd. as the distributor.
The distinction matters: a public screening permit establishes that the film was cleared for theatrical release under the relevant process. It does not itself indicate critical reception, commercial scale or production budget.
Who made it?
Stable public listings identify Xin Yumeng as director and Sun Lifang as screenwriter, with both also associated with voice roles. In an interview recorded before release and reported on August 18, Xin said he had spent five years making the film himself and had not used AI elements. Because Sun remains a credited writer and performer, this site treats Xin's statement as a description of his hands-on production work rather than as a claim that no other person contributed to the film.
Why is the film notable?
Its theatrical trajectory was unusual. Reporting citing Maoyan Professional Edition records only ¥7,705 over the first 10 days. That tiny early figure, combined with online criticism and parody, became a source of curiosity. Ticket demand then accelerated sharply: Maoyan- and Dengta-based reporting confirmed that cumulative box office crossed ¥50 million on August 26, and Dengta recorded the film passing ¥60 million on September 1. On October 2 at 22:21:06 Beijing time, the public China Film Box Office dashboard displayed ¥63.9899 million on the film's 59th day of release. The Beijing News reported on August 31 that the film’s theatrical authorization had been extended through October 4, 2026.
That sequence transformed Niu Lai from an obscure release into a broader discussion about attention, internet culture and how curiosity can reshape demand for a theatrical title.
Sources
Lists Niu Lai (牛来) under screening permit 电审动字〔2024〕第33号 and identifies Dalian Jingyuan Culture Film and Television Media Co., Ltd. as the first production company.
Provides stable film metadata including the August 5, 2026 mainland China release, 86-minute runtime, director Xin Yumeng and writer Sun Lifang.
Documents the early low-box-office period, the rapid rise in online attention, the distributor, the 86-minute runtime and key creator roles.
Confirms the production company, distributor and public screening permit while discussing the film’s sudden attention.
Provides the October 2, 22:21:06 Beijing time snapshot of ¥63.9899 million on day 59 of release; the public dashboard marks real-time market figures as including service fees.
Records Dengta Professional Edition showing the film crossing ¥60 million at 20:42 on September 1.
Reports the August 31 extension and the then-current ¥59.641 million Dengta figure.