Avatar 3 surpasses 200 billion VND, crushing Vietnamese film revenue; is this due to a preference for foreign films?

In less than two weeks since its release, the blockbuster Avatar 3 has officially surpassed 200 billion VND in Vietnam, establishing its dominance in theaters. This achievement, which "crushed" domestic films, has sparked intense debate about whether Vietnamese netizens are showing a preference for foreign films.

A slap in the face to the stereotype of "preference for foreign goods" and the power of cinematic experience.

Data from Box Office Vietnam shows that even during the peak days at the end of December, Avatar 3 maintained impressive popularity with an average daily revenue of over 4 billion VND. Meanwhile, domestic films released at the same time, such as "The House with Two Owners," only earned about 9 billion VND after their opening week – a very modest figure compared to its competitor. However, to suggest that Vietnamese audiences are turning away from domestic films because of a preference for foreign ones is a biased assessment.

In fact, Avatar 3's success lies in its ability to compel audiences to leave their phone screens and go to the cinema – something few Vietnamese films currently achieve. With cutting-edge IMAX and 3D technology, the film delivers a true "cinematic experience," transforming movie-going into a cultural event rather than just a form of entertainment. While Vietnamese films still struggle with familiar family storylines or situational comedies that can be watched on online platforms, Pandora's stunning special effects are its unique "weapon," making audiences willing to spend millions of dong on a pair of tickets.

When special effects "weapons" redefine box office standards.

The factor that helped Avatar 3 reach the 200 billion VND mark faster than its predecessor was its near-perfect production quality. James Cameron redefined audiovisual standards, transforming each frame into a work of art. Vietnamese audiences are increasingly discerning; they don't spend money based on the film's origin but on the emotional and visual value they receive. A low-budget, domestically produced film with rudimentary special effects can hardly compete on equal footing with a "wonder" that received hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

The overwhelming success of Avatar 3 and the sustained box office success of Zootopia 2 (which has surpassed 210 billion VND) reveal a paradox: Foreign films achieve great success by tapping into the "thirst" for high-quality entertainment, worldview depth, and sophisticated production techniques. Vietnamese films are struggling in their own market not because audiences lack national pride, but because the gap in large-scale filmmaking mindsets remains too wide. Instead of blaming market trends, this situation presents a challenge for Vietnamese filmmakers: If we can't compete with special effects, we must compete with superior scripts to win audiences back.

The survival and future of domestic cinema

Despite facing competition from Vietnamese newcomers like "Who Loves Whom" and "Blood Paradise," Avatar 3 maintained its dominant position, setting a record for box office revenue in 2025. The dominance of this Hollywood blockbuster is not only a source of pressure but also a valuable wake-up call for Vietnamese cinema. Audiences today are very fair: they are willing to support Vietnamese films, but they are also willing to prioritize high-quality special effects. To avoid having their box office revenue crushed, Vietnamese films need to break out of their comfort zone and invest seriously in audiovisual experiences to compete fairly in the digital age.

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