Niu Lai (牛来) opened theatrically in mainland China on August 5, 2026. Public film listings give a runtime of 86 minutes.
Release date
Public screening permit
The National Film Administration’s April 3, 2026 public notice lists Niu Lai under public screening permit 电审动字〔2024〕第33号. The year embedded in the permit number and the date on which the public list was posted are different pieces of information, so this site does not simplify them into an unsupported statement that the permit itself was “issued on April 3, 2026.”
What happened after release?
The first part of the theatrical run was extremely quiet. Reporting citing Maoyan Professional Edition records only ¥7,705 over the first 10 days. That unusual early performance later became central to the movie's viral story. As online attention grew, cinemas added screenings; cumulative box office passed ¥20 million on August 18, ¥40 million late on August 22, ¥50 million on August 26 and ¥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, two days before the currently published October 4 extension endpoint.
On August 31, The Beijing News reported, citing Dengta Professional Edition, that Niu Lai's theatrical authorization had been extended through October 4, 2026. In China's digital-cinema system, an extension allows exhibitors to continue screening a film after the original authorization period. It should not be read as a promise that every cinema will schedule the movie on every date through October 4.
Theatrical run extended to October 4
Is this a current showtimes page?
No. This page records the historical release date and context. It intentionally does not promise current cinema showtimes, streaming availability or a “latest” release status because those details change and would require continuous maintenance.
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.
Shows Niu Lai at ¥63.9899 million at 22:21:06 Beijing time on day 59 of release. The dashboard marks its 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 that theatrical authorization was extended through October 4, 2026.