'Every time I check the movie schedule, I see a horror movie.'

TPO - Recently, many comments on film forums have complained about the fact that "every time you open the movie schedule, you see a horror movie" or "every month there's a Vietnamese horror film in theaters."

In just the last two years, the big screen has continuously witnessed the appearance of films with horror, spiritual, and supernatural themes such as *The Demon Dog*, *The Ghost of the Skin*, *Cam*, *The Spirit Cat*, *Making Money with Ghosts*, *The Lamp of the Underworld*, *The Ancestral House*, *Possessed by Ghosts*, *Yin-Yang Path*, *Under the Lake*, *Finding the Corpse: The Headless Ghost*, *Hill of Torture*, *Ut Lan: The Vengeful Spirit Guarding the Treasure*, *Phi Phong: The Blood Demon of the Sacred Forest*, *Five-Toe Pig*, *Possessed by Ghosts 2*, *The Haunted House*, *Underworld Beauty Salon*, *The Fire God's Tower*…

From a genre once considered a "high-risk gamble" at the Vietnamese box office, horror films are now becoming the top choice for many producers.

The image of Meritorious Artist Hạnh Thúy in the film "Ma Xó" (The Ghost) . The film has topped the box office charts in recent days, surpassing the 100 billion VND revenue mark.

The new box office 'gold mine'

A few years ago, horror films were still considered a risky genre. Many films that generated buzz upon release ended up failing at the box office. However, the market has changed rapidly since the success of * The Dog Demon* in late 2023.

According to Box Office Vietnam, "The Devil Dog" ended its box office run with over 108 billion VND. This record was later surpassed by "The Ghost of the Night," directed by Nguyen Huu Hoang, which reached 127 billion VND.

By 2025, the horror film craze truly exploded. In just the first three months of the year, films like "The Haunted Lamp," "The Ancestral House," "Possessed by a Ghost," and "Yin Yang Revealed" were released in theaters. At certain points, horror films accounted for approximately 50% of the Vietnamese film market share in theaters.

Among them, "Ghost Lamp," "Ancestral House," and "Possessed Corpse" all surpassed 100 billion VND in revenue. Notably, "Possessed Corpse" broke the record of "Ghost" to become the highest-grossing Vietnamese horror film in history. This achievement shows that the appeal of the horror genre is no longer a fleeting phenomenon but has become a clear trend in the market.

Recently, the success of films like *Phi Phong: Blood Demon of the Sacred Forest*, *Five-Toed Pig*, *Possessed by a Corpse 2* , and *The Ghost of the Underworld* continues to demonstrate the appeal of this film genre to domestic audiences.

From a production perspective, the investors' choice is not difficult to explain. Compared to action, historical, or science fiction films that require large budgets, horror films usually have more moderate budgets but higher profit potential.

Furthermore, Vietnamese filmmakers have also found a rich source of material from the treasure trove of domestic folk beliefs and legends. From ghosts, demons possessing corpses, vengeful spirits, family curses to spiritual stories passed down through folklore, recent works have strived to explore elements close to local cultural life instead of borrowing motifs from abroad.

You may also like

Heavy rains put an end to the 40°C heatwave in Northern Vietnam.The meteorological agency issued a weather forecast predicting rain in the North, ending the 40°C heatwave, and also provided a 10-day weather forecast for Hanoi.

The legendary stream and clear blue lake in Hong LinhOn the Hong Linh mountain range, considered a symbol of Ha Tinh's natural beauty, lies a stream steeped in ancient legends and a vast lake with expansive beauty. Suoi Tien (Fairy Stream) and Thien Tuong Lake have long been popular destinations for locals, preserving cultural memories and offering a rich and distinctive tourism experience.

FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group B standings: Canada and Switzerland have the advantage, but the race for qualification remains exciting.VTV.vn - After the first two rounds of matches, Group B of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is seeing a significant advantage for host nation Canada and Switzerland.

"Lầu chú Hỏa" is the second domestic horror film currently showing in theaters. Directed by Hung Tran, the film has grossed over 24 billion VND.

Why do audiences feel like they're seeing horror movies everywhere?

The explosion of the horror film genre has also raised concerns about the diversity of the film market.

While horror films used to appear sporadically each year, audiences now encounter projects with similar themes almost constantly on release schedules. Just looking at the list of Vietnamese films from 2024 to the present reveals a significant increase in the number of works exploring ghosts, spirits, legends, or the supernatural.

Speaking to Tien Phong Newspaper , critic Nguyen Phong Viet suggested that the feeling of "looking at the movie schedule and seeing a horror film" stems from the high density of releases in recent times.

Vietnamese cinema is essentially following a trend that has been around the world for a long time. One of the important reasons why producers choose the horror genre is the economic factor.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Viet, horror films are currently considered one of the safest choices in the market. Production costs are not too high, but they have a relatively stable audience. With the continuous appearance of high-grossing films, investors' confidence in this genre is further strengthened.

Experts also believe that changes in audience tastes are contributing to the growth of this film genre. After years of dominating the box office, foreign blockbusters no longer have the absolute appeal they once did. Meanwhile, stories connected to Vietnamese culture, beliefs, and legends offer a more relatable experience for viewers.

"Very few foreign films currently surpass the 100 billion VND mark in Vietnam. When audiences start to lose interest in the familiar formulas of Hollywood, that will be an opportunity for domestic films to develop," he remarked.

According to him, another factor that makes audiences feel the market is "overwhelmed" by horror films is the constant release of new projects and their early announcements. While a film is still in theaters, producers begin hinting at sequels or new projects. This creates the feeling that horror films are constantly appearing in the media.

However, critics view this as a positive sign, arguing that the rise of horror films indicates that Vietnamese cinema now has another genre capable of competing commercially.

You may also like

Gia Lai: Digital transformation creates additional resources to support disadvantaged students in Ia Hiao.Beyond simply being a communication channel connecting the government with the people, the digital platform in Ia Hiao commune, Gia Lai province, is gradually becoming a tool for mobilizing social resources for welfare and educational support activities in the area.

Is the information about the imminent arrival of Typhoon No. 3 true?SKĐS - Over the past few hours, many people have reported receiving text messages from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development warning that Typhoon No. 3 has intensified into a super typhoon and is expected to make landfall on September 7th.

The horror film 'The Ghost' abruptly leaves theaters following an urgent directive from the Film Department.Grossing over 145 billion VND, the film 'Ma Xó' (The Ghost), starring Lê Khánh, achieved impressive results before announcing its exit from theaters.

What's even more noteworthy is that many recent successful horror films have been directed by young directors, bringing modern storytelling and fresh perspectives.

" Films like 'Phi Phong,' 'Ma Xo,' or 'Lau Chu Hoa' show that the younger generation of directors is bringing new storytelling approaches. If they continue to maintain this creativity, the competition in Vietnamese cinema will be very interesting in the next few years," he said.

Audiences will respond to demand, and producers will respond accordingly. That's the law of the market. Perhaps in a few years, a different trend will take center stage. But currently, the rise of horror films shows that Vietnamese cinema is finding a direction that is both suitable for audience tastes and capable of exploiting its own unique cultural values.

​

Source: https://tienphong.vn/mo-lich-chieu-la-thay-phim-ma-post1851341.tpo