Vietnam’s film industry is bracing for a highly competitive season as nearly 10 local films prepare to battle it out for box office dominance during the National Day (September 2) holiday. Among them, two historical war-themed productions, backed by military and police film studios, are drawing special attention.

Nearly 10 Vietnamese films in fierce competition

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Dramatic scenes from Mua do.

Mua do (Red Rain), produced by the Military Cinema Studio, kicks off the holiday movie season. It is touted as the largest-scale production not only by the studio but in the Vietnamese film industry over the past 20 years. The film draws inspiration from the 81-day battle in 1972, where Vietnamese soldiers fiercely defended Quang Tri Citadel. According to Colonel and author Chu Lai, who penned the script, it was one of the most brutal battles in the history of warfare. The trailer reveals epic large-scale scenes, showcasing heavy investment in visuals.

The production team built a massive set near the Thach Han River in Quang Tri, complete with trench systems, battle bunkers, and field meeting rooms. Few Vietnamese war films have generated such strong pre-release media buzz. A song inspired by the film, written and performed by one of the cast members, racked up over two million views within just two weeks of its debut.

Tu chien tren khong (Sky Showdown), slated for release on September 19, is an action-thriller based on a real airplane hijacking incident in Vietnam after 1975. Produced under the direction of the People’s Police Cinema Studio, the film promises historical accuracy and authentic aviation security details. It teases intense hostage situations and suspenseful face-offs between the flight crew, security forces, and hijackers.

With the entire country preparing to celebrate the national holiday and younger audiences increasingly embracing historical tributes, Mua do and Tu chien tren khong are expected to perform well at the box office. The two films mark a rare instance where local titles focusing on revolutionary history and heroism go head-to-head.

Earlier this year, director Bui Thac Chuyen’s film Dia dao, released during the April 30 holiday, demonstrated that historical and war-themed productions can still compete strongly in Vietnam’s cinemas.

Diverse lineup expected to boost the holiday box office

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Tu chien tren khong features intense, action-packed sequences.

The September 2 season becomes even more exciting as the two historical films go up against more commercial titles such as Lam giau voi ma: Cuoc chien hot xoan (Get Rich with Ghosts: The Diamond Battle), the horror flick Co dau ma (Ghost Bride), Co choi co chiu (Play Hard, Pay Hard), and Pha dam sinh nhat me (Mom’s Birthday Party Crashers). Of these, Get Rich with Ghosts: The Diamond Battle is expected to do particularly well, as the first installment earned approximately USD 5 million during the 2024 holiday. Its cast includes crowd-pullers like Hoai Linh and Tuan Tran.

Other options include Khe uoc ban dau (The Dowry Pact) and Co choi co chiu, offering audiences psychological thrillers and family dramas for the holiday break.

'Mua do' stirs emotion, 'Tu chien tren khong' delivers thrills

Speaking about the upcoming holiday film season, film critic Nguyen Le said box office results should be promising, though it remains uncertain whether they will surpass the figures set during Tet (Lunar New Year).

“Each film brings something different and caters to audience demand. Mua do captures the epic Quang Tri battle and attracts interest through its historical context. Tu chien tren khong stands out with suspenseful action and its focus on a dramatic yet lesser-known real-life event. Meanwhile, Get Rich with Ghosts 2 and Mom’s Birthday Party Crashers boast popular stars and the kind of humorous ensemble-family chaos that typically resonates with local viewers,” Le said.

2025 is widely seen as a “golden year” for Vietnamese cinema. The first half of the year witnessed unprecedented success at the box office, with 10 local films each surpassing USD 4 million in revenue. These included Bo tu bao thu (The Vengeance Quartet), Tham tu Kien: Ky an khong dau (Detective Kien: The Headless Case), Lat mat 8: Vong tay nang (Face Off 8: Sunlit Embrace), Nha gia tien (The Ancestral House), and Nu hon bac ty (The Billion Dollar Kiss).

“The surge in 100-billion-VND films (approx. USD 4 million) signals a renaissance for Vietnamese cinema. We’ve entered a golden era of local box office success. Based on current momentum, I predict at least 20 local films will cross the 100-billion mark this year,” said a veteran film critic.

The upcoming National Day film season is expected to add more titles to this elite club. Audiences are placing high hopes on the quality and variety of this year’s lineup.

PV