The Ox Has Two Horns: China's Unlikely Box Office Sensation Raises Questions A summer blockbuster season in China has seen its share of surprise hits, but few have been as unexpected as Nui Lai, a Chinese cartoon ox that has defied criticism and become the season's most unlikely sensation.
Despite being widely panned by critics and social media users for its "rough" and "crude" animation and confusing plot, Niu Lai has managed to rake in millions at the box office, outperforming more established franchises like The Odyssey and Spider Man.
Critics initially found fault with Nui Lai's shortcomings, calling it a "stiff and glitchy" production in Beijing News and complaining that the content was overly childish in Jiefang Daily.