The 29th theatrical installment of the Detective Conan franchise, Detective Conan: The Fallen Angel on the Highway, will not officially open in Vietnam until July 24, but preview screenings over the weekend have already delivered a remarkable box-office performance.

The film arrives at a milestone year for fans as the Detective Conan television anime approaches its 30th anniversary (1996–2026).

Its popularity in Japan has also been reflected at the box office. Conan Movie 29 has grossed 10.88 billion yen at the domestic box office, becoming the highest-opening film in the franchise's history.

The franchise's large fan base in Vietnam has translated into exceptional ticket sales, allowing Conan Movie 29 to outperform Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey during its opening weekend in the local market.

According to Box Office Vietnam, as of the end of July 19, the film had earned VND40 billion (US$1.53 million) in Vietnam while leading the market in both screenings and ticket sales.

By comparison, The Odyssey had taken in VND22 billion (US$842,000) after its first three days in Vietnamese cinemas.

Globally, however, The Odyssey has enjoyed a record-breaking opening weekend, earning US$264.1 million worldwide.

The film is expected to gain momentum in Vietnam in the coming days as cinema enthusiasts continue to seek out Christopher Nolan's epic, which was produced on a reported US$250 million budget and features an ensemble cast of Hollywood stars.

Holding steady in third place at the Vietnamese box office is Minions & Monsters, which has now surpassed VND140 billion (US$5.35 million) in ticket sales.

The top three positions are currently occupied by international releases.

Vietnamese horror film Quy Bat Hon, starring Quang Tuan, ranks fourth with VND30 billion (US$1.15 million) after 10 days in cinemas.

Disney's live-action Moana rounds out the top five with more than VND15 billion (US$573,000) in ticket sales.

Next weekend, the Vietnamese box office is expected to receive another boost when Detective Conan: The Fallen Angel on the Highway begins its official nationwide release.

The animated blockbuster is also widely expected to surpass VND100 billion (US$3.82 million) during its first official release weekend.

My Anh