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Low-budget Chinese film becomes world's most profitable movie

A low-budget Chinese animated film created by a mother and son for $200 has beaten Obsession's record by making 20,000 times its budget.

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Inewgen
22 Aug 2026Source: IGN Movies2 min read (0 views)
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Low-budget Chinese film becomes world's most profitable movie

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

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  • Low-budget Chinese animated film Niu Lai has become the most profitable movie relative to its budget.
  • The film was created by a Chinese mother and her son with a tiny starting budget of just $200.
  • It successfully overtook the previous record held by the film Obsession in a surprising turn of events.

The global film industry is witnessing a staggering milestone as a low-budget animated movie from China titled Niu Lai has shattered records to become the most profitable film in the world relative to its budget, officially dethroning the previous record holder, Obsession.

What makes this achievement remarkable is not Hollywood-grade special effects or massive studio backing, but rather the fact that the project was brought to life by a Chinese mother and her son working together with a modest initial budget of only 200 US dollars.

$200Production Budget
20,000xReturn on Budget

From that minimal investment, the animated feature went on to generate a massive return, multiplying its original budget by over 20,000 times. This unprecedented financial success completely upended the previous benchmarks set by Obsession in a baffling development for movie industry analysts.

digital animation creation workspace

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The monumental success of Niu Lai highlights how modern digital tools and pure creative vision can challenge traditional studio dominance. Achieving a 20,000-fold return on a micro-budget project remains an extraordinary outlier in the modern entertainment business.

This remarkable feat serves as a powerful reminder that determination and clever storytelling can overcome financial constraints, capturing the attention of audiences and industry experts worldwide who continue to follow this inspiring mother-son duo.

Source: IGN Movies

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