After a brief reign atop the box office, Running Man Vietnam: Season 3 – The Free Puppet, featuring Tran Thanh and Lan Ngoc, was knocked down to second place over the weekend.

The film, which had previously led the rankings, earned around $265,000 over the weekend, bringing its 10-day total to approximately $1.26 million, according to Box Office Vietnam.

The surprise victory belonged to Lang Lang Mountain's Little Monsters, a Chinese 2D animated feature that catapulted from third place to first, driven by powerful word-of-mouth. The film grossed nearly $407,000 over the weekend, raising its cumulative revenue in Vietnam to around $872,000 within 10 days.

Lang Lang Mountain's Little Monsters follows a band of outcast little monsters, tired of being bullied and cast aside. Together, they embark on a wild, daring journey by impersonating a group of monks on a pilgrimage to the West, hoping to petition the Buddha for immortality and recognition. With humor and heartfelt storytelling, the film has not only won over Vietnamese audiences but also set a new record as the highest-grossing 2D animated film in China’s cinematic history.

In contrast, local films struggled to attract large audiences. Tell Me, Dad, starring Kieu Minh Tuan, managed only fifth place with weekend earnings of $73,000.

Two new Vietnamese titles launched over the weekend but failed to make an impact. Dad Is Back, featuring Meritorious Artist My Duyen and Huynh Dong, debuted at ninth place with just $31,000. Meanwhile, Nam’s War: Cicada Rebirth, starring Truong Minh Cuong, Hua Minh Dat, and Quach Ngoc Tuyen, barely registered with only $9,300, landing at 20th place.

My Anh