'Mai' movie ranks 16th at worldwide box office

Deadline highlighted that "Mai" has become the first Vietnamese movie to rake in $1 million in revenue within just three days of its international release.

The film collected $917,000 from 154 North American theaters, and an additional $133,000 from 40 theaters in Europe.

Director Tran Thanh and his wife, singer Hari Won, at the U.S. premiere of "Mai" movie on March 21, 2024. Photo by Tran Thanh Films

This achievement surpasses the combined U.S. opening sales of two other best-selling hits by Tran Thanh: "Bo Gia" (Dad, I’m Sorry) with $320,500 and "Nha Ba Nu" (The House of No Man) with $440,700.

According to Box Office Vietnam, "Mai" has grossed VND550 billion ($22.17 million) in domestic revenue, making it the highest-grossing Vietnamese movie to date.

The current top five global blockbusters of 2024 include "Dune 2" ($577.4 million), "Kungfu Panda 4" ($275.7 million), "Bob Marley" ($173.5 million), "The Beekeeper" ($152.7 million), and "Mean Girls" ($104.4 million).

Last week, Tran Thanh and his wife, singer Hari Won, appeared at the U.S. premiere event of "Mai" alongside a group of close companions.

The director was overjoyed to witness the movie’s warm reception by the couple’s colleagues in the U.S.
He revealed that the film earned $500,000 solely from pre-ordered tickets, an unprecedented achievement for a Vietnamese movie.

Thien A. Pham, representative of the U.S. distributor of "Mai," announced plans to expand movie screenings to more American theaters. In addition, the movie is set to premiere in Taiwan in the near future.

Director Tran Thanh with actress Uyen An, actress Phuong Anh Dao and actor Tuan Tran (from the left). Photo by Tran Thanh Films

"Mai" centers around the life of the eponymous female lead played by Phuong Anh Dao, a nearly 40-year-old masseuse who has a chance encounter with Duong (Tuan Tran), who pursues her romantically. As the plot unfolds, Mai’s complex family issues and dark past resurface, forcing her to face her inner demons.

Despite a few minor plot holes, the film has deeply resonated with audiences due to the challenging life of the female protagonist, which was depicted brilliantly thanks to the compelling pairing of Dao and Tran.

Among the supporting characters, the most notable is Dao, portrayed by actress Hong Dao, who encourages Mai to embrace the call of love and live her life to the fullest. Director Tran Thanh plays the role of Mai’s father, convincingly portraying the character’s cruel, harsh personality.