Vietnam’s top-grossing horror film, Detective Kien: The Headless Horror, a supernatural thriller set in the Nguyen Dynasty, is set to roll out in 12 international markets this month, Deadline has reported.
Key points in the article include:
- Grossed VND 150 billion (approximately US$5.8 million) in its first 8 days
- Current gross: VND 239 billion (approximately US$9.2 million) and still screening
- Now the highest-grossing horror film in Vietnam’s history
- Eighth highest-grossing Vietnamese film of all time
- It’s to be distributed outside of Vietnam by 3388 Films, a US-based specialty distributor
- Set for theatrical release in 12 countries including: United States, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia,: United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Poland, France, Bulgaria, and Japan.
Of note, the global release of Detective Kien signals that Vietnamese cinema is increasingly export-ready, with rising international demand for Southeast Asian storytelling.
For foreign investors, it points to growing viability in Vietnamese IP, film distribution, and cross-border cultural production.
That said, film making in Vietnam does face a number of unique challenges that are worth being mindful of when looking at engaging with the local film industry.
See: Vietnam’s Film Industry 2025: Regulations, Consumer Trends, Challenges