theguardian.com/film/2026/nov/03/china-first-ai-generated-film-flops-cinema-future China’s first AI-generated film is a flop. Some still see it as the future of cinema
China’s first fully AI-generated feature, Sanxingdui: Future Past, earned 1.7m yuan at the box office despite its producer saying it cost tens of millions to make. Film workers in Beijing say AI production is likely to continue because investors believe it represents the future.