China’s first fully artificial intelligence-generated feature film has opened in cinemas, marking a milestone for the country’s film industry, although weak advance ticket sales have raised doubts about its commercial prospects.

The science-fiction thriller, Sanxingdui: Future Past, began its nationwide theatrical release on Friday, with more than 10,000 screenings scheduled, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.

However, advance ticket sales remained disappointing. Presales had generated about 65,000 yuan, equivalent to approximately 9,700 dollars, as of Thursday evening, while total box-office revenue was projected to remain below 100,000 yuan.

The figures represent only a small fraction of the reported production cost of more than 10 million yuan, or approximately 1.5 million dollars.

Produced by Bona Film Group, the movie took more than two years to complete, with nearly 100 people involved in the production. The film uses AI-generated characters, voices and backgrounds, demonstrating the growing application of the technology in feature-length filmmaking.

Bona Film Group Chief Executive Officer Jiang Defu acknowledged the muted reception but described the release as an important step for the industry, noting that the production had secured approval for theatrical distribution and was now being tested by audiences.

Despite the technological achievement, some viewers have questioned whether the film offers sufficient quality to justify cinema ticket prices. Iris Yang, who attended a free preview screening, said she would not have paid to watch it, arguing that AI-generated productions needed to deliver a more compelling cinematic experience.

The lukewarm response comes as AI-generated video content gains popularity in China. Short AI-generated dramas published on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, attracted more than 200 billion views in September alone.

Nevertheless, industry observers say the popularity of free online content does not automatically translate into a willingness to pay for AI-generated films in cinemas. Independent AI director Zhang Jun noted that audiences would not necessarily purchase tickets simply because a movie was made using artificial intelligence.

The development also comes amid growing debate over AI’s impact on the global entertainment industry, particularly concerns about job losses, copyright protection and the use of performers’ likenesses.

In the United States, another AI-generated science-fiction feature, Gods Don’t Give Gifts, is scheduled for release in December, while virtual actor Tilly Norwood is expected to appear in an upcoming film titled Misaligned.

China’s experiment with Sanxingdui: Future Past will provide an early indication of whether AI-generated feature films can attract paying cinema audiences, beyond their growing popularity on digital platforms.