The animated film “Niu Lai” has gained unexpected popularity in reverse due to its poor reputation, driving a broad rise in A-share stocks from the “Niu” (bull) camp on Monday. Luo Niu Shan hit the daily limit, while Jin Niu Chemical and Tong Niu Information also moved up in tandem. Although the related companies have no real connection to the film, retail investors are still hotly speculating on the “rising as soon as it’s related to Niu (bull)” concept. The rough animation and absurd plot of “Niu Lai” ironically went viral in reverse; the ongoing buzz has spread its “going-mainstream” effect into the capital market—and even into the crypto market. On Monday (August 17), the prices of multiple A-share companies with “Niu” in their names surged strongly, being jokingly dubbed the “Niu Lai concept stocks.” On the Binance Chain, the “Niu Lai” concept meme token achieved a market value of 200 million yuan. Regarding how “Niu Lai,” produced at a “disaster-level” standard, could make it into theaters, communication scholar Wei Wu Hui said in an interview that review bodies focus only on technical issues and ideological concerns, but they are not responsible for aesthetics. Emotion is also value—what does the “Niu Lai” phenomenon indicate?