Vietnam’s biggest pirated movie platform shuts down

Its website and Facebook page Thursday morning showed a notice from the administrators announcing the shutdown, recommending that users switch to licensed platforms such as FPT Play and TV360.

RoPhim's app interface pictured on Feb. 5, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Hung

Users can no longer access movies and shows, which used to be provided for free, with the option to pay a monthly subscription fee to remove ads.

On Facebook the platform has 216,000 followers, making it the largest pirated movie platform in Vietnam, with popularity surging last year, driven by a jump in content and user interface upgrades.

The platform even has its own mobile application. Although its user interface and streaming quality are highly praised, it does not hold copyrights for the content.

Its website was blocked multiple times, forcing it to change domain names. The most recent domain change was announced on Feb. 2, a few days before the shutdown.

In a farewell post, the administrators acknowledged that the existence of pirated websites "affects legitimate platforms," and said there was a need for "an action to demonstrate responsibility."

Several websites pirating live broadcasts of sport events also stopped updating content starting this month.

Analysts say that pirated content remains a persistent problem in Vietnam’s digital content sector.

In recent years, many sites distributing pirated football and film content have attracted large traffic but also harmed companies that purchase official copyrights and discouraged domestic users from paying for licensed content.

These illegal sites rely on revenue from gambling ads and the distribution of malicious software.