Vietnamese films earn big profits after being postponed amid recent COVID-19 outbreak

A scene from Bo Gia (Old Dad), a comedy production

 by TRAN THANH TOWN, earned VND10.6 billion (US$462,000) in ticket sales

 after its premiere on March 6. The film was scheduled to be in cinemas

 during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday early last month

 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Photo courtesy of the producer

Bo Gia(Old Dad), a comedy by TRAN THANH TOWN, earned VND10.6 billion (US$462,000) in ticket sales after its premiere on March 6. 

The film earned VND22 billion ($958,000) in one day after its official release on Sunday. It has so far earned VND82 billion ($3.5 million), according to the film’s producer. 

The number is expected to break ticket sales records for Vietnamese films in recent years as audiences are flocking to cinemas. 

The trailer of Bo Gia has attracted more than 2.7 million views on YouTube. 

While Gai Gia Lam Chieu V – Nhung Cuoc Doi Vuong Gia (The Tricky Ladies V: Luxurious Lives), a film about love and women, earned VND5.5 billion ($239,000) on the first day after release on March 5. It earned nearly VND9 billion ($391,000) in the first three days. 

Bo Gia is a new version of the most-viewed web drama last season. It is about the life of an older xe om (motorbike taxi) driver living in HCM City who faces challenges earning money for his wife and children. 

It stars famous comedian TranThanh and his peer, veteran comic actress Ngoc Giau. Young actors Tuan Tran and Ngan Chi are also included. 

Thanh, owner of TRAN THANH TOWN, invested VND23 billion ($1 million) in the production.

He invited blockbuster director Vu Ngoc Dang, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, to guarantee ticket sales.

“My film highlights a father and child,” said film producer Thanh, who plays the xe om driver in the film. “The culture and lifestyle of Saigonese are also featured."

Gai Gia Lam Chieu V – Nhung Cuoc Doi Vuong Gia is the fifth edition of the chick flick series called Gai Gia Lam Chieu (The Tricky Ladies) by young directors Bao Nhan and Nam Cito.

It has A-list actresses Le Khanh, Hong Van, Kaity Nguyen and Ninh Dương Lan Ngoc who have helped to attract fans since the staff began filming their first scenes in Hue City. 

The producer, MAR6 Pictures, spent VND46 billion ($2 million) on production.  

The two films Bo Giaà and Gai Gia Lam Chieu V – Nhung Cuoc Doi Vuong Gia  were schedueld to be in cinemas during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday early last month but were postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak

Source: VNA