A notable part of the Niulai conversation was the idea that some audiences went to the cinema not only for the film's story but also to participate in a shared offline event.
Online memes, check-ins and joke-sharing can turn a screening into a social gathering. In this framing, the theater becomes a place where an internet topic is experienced together rather than simply consumed alone.
This is a recognizable pattern in contemporary viral culture: online attention can move people into real-world activities, especially when a shared reference gives strangers something immediate to discuss.
The scale and form of that behavior vary by location and time. It should be described as a documented audience pattern, not a universal explanation for why people watched the film.
SOURCE NOTE
Editorial note: this English explainer summarizes public discussion and is not an official statement from the film's rights holders.