Diverse genres, cast becomes "anchor point" for audiences
The Vietnamese film market during the April 30 holiday this year witnessed diversity with many genres of films released in theaters. "Phí phông: Quỷ máu rừng thiêng" attracted attention thanks to exploiting highland legends and the participation of Kieu Minh Tuan, Diep Bao Ngoc. The film has achieved revenue of more than 100 billion VND as of April 23, setting a record as the fastest horror film to reach 100 billion VND. Meanwhile, "Heo năm móng" continues the same direction when taking advantage of folk materials from the Mekong Delta, showing an increasingly clear trend towards local culture.
In the social psychology segment, "Hero" stands out thanks to the participation of Thai Hoa, a box office guarantee face. His restrained, introverted acting style is expected to bring emotional depth to the film instead of just relying on drama. "Blood Moon Party 8" chooses a different approach, gathering a multi-generational cast such as Hong Anh, Hua Vi Van, Miu Le and Lien Binh Phat. Gathering many names helps the film increase recognition and expand the audience.
In the entertainment film genre, "Trum So" marks Duc Thinh's return as director and main actor. The appearance of Miss Mai Phuong and Doan Quoc Dam shows the effort to combine market factors and content. This diversity reflects the transformation of Vietnamese cinema, when producers no longer rely on a single genre, but segment audiences to maximize access opportunities.
From the revenue race to the sustainable development problem
The April 30th film season is considered one of the bustling periods of the Vietnamese box office, becoming an important "revenue peak". In 2025, the number of projects released in theaters is less and only "Lat Mat 8" by Ly Hai and "Detective Kien" are the two most prominent names and revenue mainly focuses on a few outstanding films, while many projects only reach an average or low level. The cast is an initial attraction factor, but with the influence of social networks, the word-of-mouth effect determines long-term success.
This year, the noteworthy point lies in the change in consumer behavior. Audiences are no longer absolutely loyal to stars or brands, but are willing to choose many different movies in the same holiday. This makes the revenue "piece" divided, forcing producers to compete by quality instead of just relying on advertising campaigns.
Besides, the absence of brands that once dominated the box office (Ly Hai's "Lật mặt" movie brand) makes the race more unpredictable. Without "overwhelming opponents", the films start almost equally, creating a balance but also full of risks.
In the long term, this competition is a positive signal for the market, forcing producers to seriously invest in scripts and storytelling. Audiences will play a decisive role, choosing works that deserve to exist for a long time in theaters.
The April 30th film season is not only a short-term competition but also reflects the development trend of Vietnamese cinema. As the number of films increases and genres become more diverse, the market gradually shifts from the "seasonal eating" model to competition based on content value.
In that context, the cast still plays an important role, but is no longer an "absolute guarantee". A film that wants to be successful needs to combine many factors: Reasonable distribution strategy, convincing content and the ability to create connection with the audience.
