Vietnamese films overcome the hundred-billion-dong craze.

After a boom period with a series of films grossing hundreds of billions of dong, Vietnamese cinema is clearly slowing down. Recent releases have consistently recorded low box office revenue and faced mixed reviews regarding content and artistic quality.

Film: Disrupting Mom's Birthday. Photo: Provided by Galaxy.

Revenue is sluggish. Vietnamese films struggling

While Vietnamese films witnessed spectacular breakthroughs from the beginning of 2025 to around August 2025 with films like "Flip Face 8," "Detective Kien," and "Red Rain," the market seemed to cool down in the fourth quarter of 2025. Many films were released but failed to create an impact, and some even suffered losses.

A prime example is the film "Blindfolded Deer Catching," which only grossed just over 300 million VND by the afternoon of November 3rd – a modest figure compared to other projects, not only in 2025 but also in recent years, for a theatrical release. The film has been criticized for both its script and acting, becoming a prime example of the "making films just to... have a film" mentality.

The horror film "The Haunted House," after an initial surge of curiosity, has now grossed 17 billion VND – a decent result but far below expectations. Meanwhile, the dark comedy "Disrupting Mom's Birthday" only reached 3.3 billion VND; this genre appeals to a niche audience and lacks originality.

Another film, "Cai Ma," despite holding the top spot at the box office upon its release, only grossed just over 11 billion VND. The film was embroiled in controversy related to actress Thien An.

The project has a rather interesting theme, but the approach hasn't really captivated audiences. Although the film is currently topping the box office, it only earns 1-2 billion VND per day on weekends. Compared to previous successful projects, a single weekend can bring in 20-30 billion VND, or even 40-50 billion VND.

Even highly anticipated projects like "The Grandma's Golden Gem" - a film featuring famous actors such as Hong Dao and Viet Huong, with meticulously produced visuals - have only reached 74 billion VND, struggling to surpass the 100 billion VND mark as initially predicted.

The number of films released in theaters hasn't decreased, but their quality and appeal have declined significantly. Audiences are becoming more cautious about Vietnamese films, after witnessing a long period of discrepancies between advertising and reality.

Vietnamese cinema repeats old mistakes.

It is clear that the main reason for the decline of Vietnamese cinema is the lack of good scripts and a clear direction.

After the box office boom that generated hundreds of billions of dong, many producers hastily chased after popular trends, reusing old formulas: exploiting family tragedies, charming comedies, or spiritual elements. This repetition quickly bored audiences, and the box office gradually lost its appeal.

Another problem is the mismatched marketing strategy. Instead of focusing on content, many film crews seek attention through gimmicks: personal scandals, shocking statements, or excessive marketing. This might help the film gain attention in the first few days, but it won't retain viewers if the quality doesn't meet expectations.

Compared to the past, today's viewers are more discerning and demanding. They are willing to spend money on Vietnamese films, but only if they feel they are "worth the money."

Recent successes like "Battle in the Air" and "Red Rain" share a common thread: solid storylines, genuine emotions, and clear humanistic values. This is something filmmakers today need to reconsider.

Furthermore, competition with foreign films is becoming increasingly fierce. Every month, Vietnamese cinemas welcome a series of Hollywood blockbusters and high-quality Korean and Japanese films, making it easy for domestic films, unless they are truly outstanding, to be "swallowed up." Cinemas are also forced to reduce screenings for Vietnamese films if revenue is low, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break.

Nevertheless, the market still offers opportunities if filmmakers focus on Vietnamese stories, exploring the depth of Vietnamese culture and people instead of chasing trends. The hundred-billion-dollar frenzy may be over, but that doesn't mean the door is closed. It's just a reminder that audiences are waiting for works that truly touch their emotions.

As Vietnamese cinema enters a challenging period at the end of the year, films must reinvent themselves, from scripts and acting to new production philosophies, in order to retain viewers.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/phim-viet-qua-con-sot-tram-ti-dong-3383077.html