iQIYI AIGC Series "The Ferry Man" Revenue Milestone and Third Installment Launch

iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, disclosed that the cumulative revenue‑sharing amount for its artificial‑intelligence‑generated‑content (AIGC) film series "The Ferry Man" surpassed RMB 8 million (approximately US$1.2 million) as of 23 September 2026. The revenue‑sharing model allocates earnings to production partners based on viewership and box‑office performance.

The third instalment, titled "The Ferry Man: The Dream of the Princess," debuted on 1 October 2026 across both iQIYI and iQIYI International platforms. This instalment follows the first two titles—"The Ferry Man: Butterfly Dream" and "The Ferry Man: The Dream of the Celestial Maiden"—which were released simultaneously on 22 August 2026 and quickly generated commercial traction.

Production of the first two films was a joint effort between iQIYI and GHY Culture & Media. According to series producer Zhichao Li, each film progressed from project initiation to launch in less than four months, a timeline he attributed to AI‑driven efficiencies. AI was employed throughout script development, concept design, set and prop creation, and post‑production, allowing visual assets to be generated directly into video content and dramatically shortening traditional visual‑effects workflows.

A distinctive feature of the series is the creation of reusable digital assets. The three lead actors licensed their likenesses and provided voiceovers, enabling iQIYI to develop standardized, reusable character models, scenes, and props. These assets support visual consistency across instalments while reducing incremental production costs.

Financially, the series recovered its full production costs within the first week of release and accumulated RMB 8 million in box‑office revenue within the first month, with the figure continuing to rise. This rapid recovery validates the revenue‑sharing model and demonstrates the viability of AIGC‑based content as a financially sustainable production approach.

The "Ferry Man" series builds on iQIYI’s earlier AIGC venture, "Mystic Tales – The Spider Lady's Vendetta," which was the first AIGC internet feature film released under an Internet Drama and Film Distribution License.

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