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 on August 14 cited only 7,169 yuan in box office receipts after nine days. That unusual early performance later became central to the movie’s viral story. As online attention grew, cinemas added screenings and the movie moved from near-obscurity into much wider public discussion.
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.