'Cow Comes': Viral Chinese Film Tops ¥42 Million, Beats Hit Superhero Movies on IMDb
The low-budget mainland film "Cow Comes" has surged to more than 42 million yuan at the box office with no traditional marketing, while earning an IMDb score higher than superhero blockbusters like "Eternals" and "Justice League."
Photo: Sing Tao Headline
The mainland Chinese film "Cow Comes" recently sparked widespread online discussion for its crude visuals and absurd storyline, quickly becoming a viral sensation. According to platform data, as of Sunday (Aug. 23), the film's cumulative box office had surpassed 42 million yuan (RMB, hereafter), with more than 1.5 million admissions.
Released without any traditional roadshows, online promotion or posters, the film's box office results have already exceeded those of contemporaries such as "Caught by the Tides" (10.31 million yuan), directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jia Zhangke, and "A Man and a Woman" (3.83 million yuan), directed by Guan Hu. Beyond attracting young mainland audiences, the film has also drawn many Hong Kong residents traveling north to see it.
The core creative team posted on social media, calling the box office a milestone in their "five years of honing a single sword," a phased achievement, and said they would continue moving forward, believing the distance between the film and its audience is being shortened one ticket at a time. The team also revealed that they are preparing a new work, "Sheep High," described as a warm story about growth, dreams and courage.
Mainland netizens noted that the film has been in theaters for only 19 days. Although the summer break is drawing to a close, they believe that as long as screenings continue, reaching 60 million yuan should be no problem, stressing that as a "zero-promotion" work, such results are already remarkable.
Overseas, the film debuted with a 6.5 rating on the International Movie Database (IMDb), surpassing hit superhero movies such as "Eternals," "The Marvels" and "Justice League." A pirated full version on YouTube has also racked up 1 million views.
The film has drawn numerous comments from foreign netizens in review sections, including: "If you don't watch this film, you will waste your entire life," "The cost of this movie is not low at all—it's a mother who loves you very much," and "The act of chasing dreams is commendable."
Source: Sing Tao Headline — https://www.stheadline.com/realtime-china/3607361