How much did Sanxingdui: Future Past cost to make?

The film had a budget of $1.5 million, according to AFP.

How much has the film earned so far?

It generated an estimated $180,000 through Monday, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.

What did Bona's COO say about the reception?

Jiang Defu acknowledged the lukewarm reception but called the film an important experiment, saying Bona was first to try it, first to get a theatrical release permit, and first to be tested by audiences.

Video GenerationAI Business & IndustryFortune AI3m agoOct 28, 2026, 10:01 JST

Sanxingdui: Future Past earns $180,000 on $1.5 million budget

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3 Key Points

What happened
Bona Film Group's Sanxingdui: Future Past, China's first fully AI-generated feature to reach cinemas, took in an estimated $180,000 through Monday against a $1.5 million budget, per Maoyan and AFP.
Why it matters
The gap between the estimated $180,000 taken and the $1.5 million spent suggests audiences remain wary of AI in a full-length film, even as AI floods short-form microdramas.

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Context & Analysis

Sanxingdui: Future Past arrived as AI has already spread through China's short-form video. According to Caixin, over 95% of the more than 120,000 Chinese microdramas released in the first quarter of 2026 were AI-generated, compared with nearly zero a year earlier, and production costs had fallen to as little as $3,000.

The feature-length experiment drew mixed reactions on social media, from a Xiaohongshu user saying the film "totally traumatized" them to another praising AI movies as low-cost and creatively freeing. Stanley Rosen of the University of Southern California said the public is highly skeptical about AI in major feature films despite accepting short-form ones, and argued an AI film would need to match the quality of titles like "Avatar" or "Nezha 2" to draw theater audiences. He added that the financial loss will compel others considering AI for features to tread more carefully.

The debate is not confined to China. In 2023, U.S. screenwriters and actors went on strike partly to demand protections against AI, and director Ben Affleck said he used AI "for lots of things" in Netflix's "Animals," released Oct. 9, while hesitating to specify them because movies are meant to foster the illusion of reality.

FAQ

How much did Sanxingdui: Future Past cost to make?: The film had a budget of $1.5 million, according to AFP.
How much has the film earned so far?: It generated an estimated $180,000 through Monday, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
What did Bona's COO say about the reception?: Jiang Defu acknowledged the lukewarm reception but called the film an important experiment, saying Bona was first to try it, first to get a theatrical release permit, and first to be tested by audiences.

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