Phi Phong: The Blood Demon is breaking records at the Vietnam box office as the fastest local horror film to reach the VND100bn ($3.8m) milestone. It also ranks as Vietnam’s second biggest local feature of the year to date with $5.09m (VND134bn).
Directed by Do Quoc Trung, the horror is inspired by the folklore of a bloodthirsty entity from Vietnam’s northern highlands and follows two apprentice shamans who journey into the mountains to save their mother from a deadly Phi Phong curse. On their travels, they encounter a mother and daughter who exhibit uncanny traits linked to the legend.
Ahead of its opening on April 24, preview screenings were scheduled from April 16-19. However, it gained instant momentum due to strong positive early reactions, earning $2.63m (VND69.44bn) during that period and leading to an extension through April 23. This spurred the film to become the fastest Vietnamese horror feature to cross VND100bn in less than a week, even before its opening day.
Local audiences have praised the film for its gripping narrative, striking visuals, unexpected twists and layered themes beneath its eerie atmosphere, according to Phong Duong, business director and executive producer at the film’s distributor and production company, Mockingbird Pictures and Bluebells Studios.
On Monday (April 27), which was a holiday in lieu for Hung Kings Commemoration Day on Sunday, the film crossed $5.09m (VND134bn), surpassing The Corpse 2 ($5.08m/VND133.99bn) to become the second highest grossing local film this year so far, and only behind hitmaker Tran Thanh’s Bunny!!, reportedly with takings of almost $17.1m (VND450bn).
Vietnam’s box office is expected to heat up further this week with the National Reunification Day holiday on April 30 and Labour Day on May 1. A string of five local films opened last week to capture the holidays, including Hell Trotter, Mr Hero, Blood Moon Rite 8 and Trum So, along with Phi Phong: The Blood Demon.
According to data released by leading exhibitor CGV, the first quarter of 2026 saw total box office reach $58.7m (VND1.545bn), with more than 18.5 million admissions, up 9.5% year-on-year. Local films – led by Lunar New Year release Bunny!! – accounted for 76% of the total box office and 78% of admissions.
International rollout
Phi Phong: The Blood Demon is also building momentum in overseas markets, having secured theatrical releases across more than 20 territories. As part of its international rollout, it will open in North America in May through Mockingbird Pictures, Cambodia and Laos (M Pictures) on June 19, Malaysia and Brunei (GSC) on June 25, alongside Australia and New Zealand (Infinity Group) on the same date.
Further releases are scheduled in Thailand (M Studio) on July 3, with Hong Kong (Sil-Metropole Organisation), Taiwan (MovieCloud), and Indonesia (PT Omega) to follow in July. Additional territories are expected to open the film in Q3.
The film is a produced by Bluebells Studios, the sister company of Mockingbird Pictures, which handles local theatrical release and international sales. It is produced by Nguyen Xuan Quan and Trang Doan, founders of both companies.
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