Five 2025 releases break into Vietnam’s all-time top 10
Vietnamese cinema has never been as vibrant as it is today. While Vietnamese films once performed well only during the Tet holiday, they now thrive during other holidays such as April 30 and September 2. Today, local productions are released year-round and increasingly supported by audiences.
Audiences are still buzzing about Red Rain, which stormed the box office from late August through September, continuously setting new revenue records. It became not only the highest-grossing film of 2025 but also the biggest box-office hit in Vietnamese cinema history, grossing 714 billion VND (approximately $29 million) with more than 8 million tickets sold.
Everywhere people went, they were talking about Red Rain. The film dominated cinemas for five weeks and continued to attract viewers even as it exited theaters. Some fans watched it multiple times, contributing to an unprecedented feat for a war-themed, state-backed film about the 81-day battle to defend Quang Tri Citadel.
Following the phenomenon of Red Rain was Airborne Duel, which depicted a fierce aerial battle to defend Vietnam’s skies after reunification. However, ticket sales for Airborne Duel slowed significantly and have plateaued at 250 billion VND (around $10.2 million) since its September 19 release.
The film Get Rich with Ghosts 2, released one week after Red Rain, still managed to draw viewers and exited theaters with 101 billion VND ($4.1 million) in revenue. Despite being released during a quiet period, My Foreign Dad’s Gold Nugget also performed well, reaching 74 billion VND ($3 million).
Film critic Le Hong Lam, during a presentation at the October conference "Developing Vietnam’s Arts Market: Current Landscape and Solutions" in Hanoi, revealed eye-opening data on the rapid growth of the local film industry.
By the end of October 2025, Vietnamese films had grossed over 3 trillion VND ($123 million), up from 1.8 trillion VND in all of 2024. Thirteen films surpassed the 100 billion VND ($4.1 million) mark, and eight domestic titles were among the top 10 box-office hits, with five 2025 releases making it into the all-time top 10. The market’s localization rate reached 69%, a sharp increase from 29% in 2019 - a year considered a breakout period before the pandemic.
Domestic film revenue rose nearly 30% year-on-year. “Vietnam’s film market is growing faster than anywhere else in the world and still has room for expansion, whereas most international markets are saturated or declining,” said Le Hong Lam. “With 70% of viewers going to theaters for local films, and just 30% for foreign titles - mostly from Japan, the US, South Korea, and Thailand - this is the fastest development phase in the history of Vietnam’s cinema.”
Blockbusters rare amid a sea of flops
Despite major hits like Red Rain, Airborne Duel, and Get Rich with Ghosts 2, the Vietnamese film market remains skewed, with far more losses than successes. Animated films, independent productions, and art-house films struggle to find an audience, making cinema investments a risky gamble.
The idea that "any Vietnamese film will sell" is a myth. Many films have been pulled from theaters after just days due to poor attendance and widespread criticism, despite aggressive promotional campaigns. A prime example is Blindfolded Game, released on October 31.
Even with actor Luong Gia Huy - fresh off the blockbuster Red Rain - and intense marketing featuring explicit scenes, the film's poor quality led audiences to reject it. It earned just 300 million VND ($12,300) in its first three days.
Earlier, the horror film Torture Hill, starring Red Rain actor Hua Vi Van, performed dismally and was pulled from theaters after just nine days in early October, earning only 2.1 billion VND ($86,000).
However, the biggest disappointment of the year was Pawn Shop: Play and Pay, which earned just 153 million VND (about $6,200) before vanishing from theaters. Despite its dismal quality, the film stirred controversy when lead actress Cat Phuong publicly criticized the director's skills. The dispute between her and the producers added to the negative buzz. As a result, Pawn Shop joined the ranks of 2025’s worst-performing films.
Several recent Vietnamese films featured star-studded casts and heavy marketing but still underperformed. Haunted Grave, embroiled in speculation over actress Thien An’s involvement before release, made under 12 billion VND ($491,000) in its first week. Mom’s Birthday Party Disaster fared no better, earning 3.3 billion VND ($135,000).
Ghost House, criticized for its vulgar dialogue and excessive swearing, managed only 17 billion VND ($697,000) after 10 days. Bride for Sale, which featured veteran actor Trung Anh and provocative scenes, exited with the same figure.
Lift Each Other Up, starring Quoc Truong, brought in only 16 billion VND ($656,000). Even A Star in My Hands, which featured K-pop star Lee Kwang Soo and a big marketing push, earned just 11.7 billion VND ($480,000).
The box-office results of the past two months highlight the increasingly unpredictable nature of Vietnamese audiences. Only films with fresh, emotionally resonant themes seem able to stay in theaters long enough to make money. No amount of hype or promotional gimmicks can save a film if its quality falls short or it fails to connect with mainstream viewers.
My Anh
Vietnamnet.vn
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