This year’s Tet film season in Vietnam saw fierce competition among local cinematic works. Among them, ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ by Thu Trang has emerged as a sensation, showing an impressive surge and a remarkable comeback on the box office charts.
A Thrilling Race at the Box Office
From its opening days, ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ held the runner-up position in terms of revenue, just behind the blockbuster ‘Four-Man Squad.’ According to Box Office Vietnam, the film had around 1,500 screenings on its first day. By February 4th (the 7th day of Tet), this number skyrocketed to 3,400 screenings—more than double its initial launch.
Doan Thien An plays the lead character Thuy Van in ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ (Photo: Provided by the film).
Not only did the number of screenings increase, but the film’s revenue also shattered records. On February 4th alone, it earned 12 billion VND, narrowing the gap with ‘Four-Man Squad,’ the leading film, to just 5 billion VND. This trend suggests that ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ could reach the 100 billion VND mark by February 9th.
Meanwhile, while ‘Four-Man Squad’ maintained its top spot with total revenues of 240 billion VND, it showed signs of slowing down. The daily screenings dropped from a peak of 6,000 to 5,000, indicating a slight decline in audience appeal.
Factors Driving ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ to Success
The remarkable comeback of ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ is due to several positive factors:
1. High-Quality Content Praised by Audiences
Both viewers and critics have lauded the film’s script. The humorous yet poignant story about Thuy Van (played by Doan Thien An), an heir to a small bakery in Dalat, and her unexpected romance with two men, Quang (Mai Xuan Tien) and Tu (Ma Ran Do), truly resonated with audiences.
2. Smart Marketing Strategy
One notable aspect of ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ is its use of two different endings based on theater chains. This piqued audience curiosity, encouraging them to watch the film multiple times to discover the full story. Additionally, director Thu Trang and the cast organized numerous live meet-and-greets, fostering stronger connections with fans.
An effective distribution strategy helps ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ close the gap with ‘Four-Man Squad’ (Screenshot).
3. Enthusiastic Support from Fans
On social media, many fans expressed their love for ‘Billion Dollar Kiss.’ Director Thu Trang emotionally shared, “I cried when I learned the film was getting more screenings. It’s an immense joy to see my spiritual child being embraced by the audience.”
The cast of ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ interacts with fans during a meet-and-greet event (Photo: Facebook).
Lagging Behind: ‘Falling for My Best Friend’ Faces Challenges
While ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ and ‘Four-Man Squad’ vie for the top spot, the third film in the race, ‘Falling for My Best Friend,’ has struggled significantly. After one week, it only managed to earn 14 billion VND, a modest sum compared to initial expectations.
Conclusion: The Race Is Far From Over
Although ‘Four-Man Squad’ currently leads the revenue charts, ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’s strong surge demonstrates that this year’s Tet film season is far from over. With quality content, smart marketing strategies, and enthusiastic fan support, ‘Billion Dollar Kiss’ has the potential to become the surprise hit of the season.
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