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Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement' dominates the box office as Hollywood blockbusters cool down
Báo Tuổi Trẻ
24/08/2026
16:57
Over the past weekend, no notable film was strong enough to challenge Huynh Lap's 'Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement'.
Nghệ sĩ Cao Minh trong Nghỉ hè sợ nghỉ hưu - Ảnh: ĐPCC
The past week saw a film release wave on August 21st featuring notable titles such as Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary, Insidious: The Red Door, Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement, The Siren, and The Eye-Hooking Demon...
According to Box Office Vietnam data, Huynh Lap's Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement continues to lead the box office, grossing nearly 96 billion VND after 9 days in theaters (including 6 days of early screenings). The film maintains its momentum with approximately 3,500 screenings per day, continuing to overwhelm other competitors.
Initially, Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement was scheduled to premiere on August 28th, alongside The Guardian and The Rich Son, to coincide with the five-day National Day holiday on September 2nd. However, Huynh Lap changed his distribution strategy, bringing the film to theaters early starting August 14th, before its official release on August 21st.
Huỳnh Lập trong Nghỉ hè sợ nghỉ hưu - Ảnh: ĐPCC
In reality, early screenings (often called "sneak shows") typically last only 1-3 days before the official release date, with a limited number of screenings, mostly in the evenings. This format was originally intended to gauge audience reaction. If a film receives positive feedback, it can create word-of-mouth buzz, encouraging audiences to visit theaters upon official release.
In Vietnam, recently, the early screening period for some films has been increasingly extended. A typical example is The Ancestral, which grossed 100 billion VND thanks to a one-week early screening period before the April 30th holiday. In essence, the film was widely released before its official premiere date, even though it was still marketed under the term "early screening." The case of Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement is similar.
Cody Nam Võ thủ vai chính trong Nghỉ hè sợ nghỉ hưu - Ảnh: ĐPCC
Discussing the quality of Summer Vacation, Fear of Retirement, Huynh Lap does not emphasize horror elements, does not use "jumpscares," and does not construct the typical character designs of the underworld. Instead, spiritual elements are used as a bridge to recount past stories, thereby helping the character Binh gradually shed his prejudices and better understand the grandfather he once thought was "possessed."
In the second half, the film's narrative shifts as layers of memories regarding war and the losses of a generation are gradually revealed. Through flashback sequences, the distance between the grandfather and grandson is gradually bridged. Mr. Thoi, from a reserved man living in his own obsessions, gradually opens up to his grandson's affection. However, due to a lack of cinematic camera angles, the film has not yet created enough necessary pauses for the audience to stop and reflect on the story and characters.
In second place is Insidious: The Red Door, which grossed 14 billion VND in its opening. The film has about 1,700 screenings per day. The plot revolves around Gemma (Amelia Eve), a young mother who returns to live in her childhood home with her daughter and discovers she can enter The Further, a place that traps lost souls. But Gemma can not only enter The Further, she also possesses the ability to bring entities from there back into the real world.
Khi các thế lực tà ác phát hiện ra sức mạnh của Gemma, ranh giới giữa hai thế giới dần sụp đổ, biến thế giới người sống thành sân chơi quỷ dữ - Ảnh: IMDb
In third place is Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary, which grossed 9 billion VND in its opening with only about 800 screenings per day. Set during the summer in Akita, the film follows Shin and the Nohara family on an exciting trip to their hometown. However, a strange event leads the whole family into the mysterious Land of Yokai - a place where humans are not allowed to set foot.
Here, Shin and his family must face unprecedented challenges while meeting a series of unique, humorous, and adorable yokai. With a combination of adventure, fantasy, and the signature humor of Shin, along with warm family messages, the film offers an engaging entertainment journey for audiences of all ages this summer.
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