Box office flop: Even top directors and actors can have a 'fall from grace' moments in the film industry

The first Vietnamese film to try the survival genre

Claw is a movie that marks the return of director Lê Thanh Sơn after 7 years of absence since his film Sweet 18. This film is also the first in Vietnam to explore the survival genre.

The film brings together the participation of many young faces that have caught the attention of the audience such as Tuấn Trần, Nguyễn Lâm Thảo Tâm, Hồng Thanh, Rocker Nguyễn...

A scene from the movie "Claw" (Photo: Film crew)

As of June 11, after nearly 1 week in theaters (including early screenings), Claw has only earned nearly 3 billion VND in revenue, far behind other films released at the same time such as Ancestors' Grace (25 billion VND), Bad boys 4 (6 billion VND). Even the daily revenue of Claw falls short compared to Face Off 7: A Wish - a film that has been in theaters since April.

On the morning of June 11, the film by Lê Thanh Sơn had 652 screenings but only sold 1,070 tickets, showing an average ratio of only about 1.7 tickets per screening. Discussions about Claw on social media are also less lively compared to the Thai film that is causing a sensation, Ancestors' Grace.

With the current slow ticket sales pace, Claw is unlikely to reverse its situation. The film is predicted to be another box office flop in the Vietnamese cinema market in 2024.

Previously, when sharing expectations about the "spiritual child," director Lê Thanh Sơn aimed for 300 billion VND. "If the film reaches that number, we will be very happy. Because it is recognition from the audience rather than a matter of recouping the investment," the director said.

Director, actors with "hundred billion" aspirations fall flat

Before its release, Claw was seen as an interesting test for the Vietnamese film market. Created by Lê Thanh Sơn - the "hundred billion" director with popular works like Dragon Trap, Sweet 18, the film was expected to be a highlight of this year's screen.

However, the unexpectedly low box office revenue of the film shows that it was not well received by Vietnamese audiences. Experts attribute this failure to various reasons, with the most important reason being that the film failed to capture the public's taste.

Rocker Nguyễn, Tuấn Trần, Gi A Nguyễn, and Quốc Khánh in the film (Photo: Film crew)

In the film, the director explores a camping trip in the deep forest of a group of 7 close friends. The characters face a fierce bear, are isolated from the outside world, and have to find a way to survive.

Many viewers commented that the film is good in terms of visual effects. The bear is created using CGI image simulation technology, with smooth, vivid movements. The young cast, good-looking appearances, and some humorous dialogues in the film are also highlights.

However, the storyline of the film is considered uninteresting. Many people find the survival, "monster battle" theme to be a boring, outdated dish because Hollywood has explored it for a long time. When implemented in Vietnam, this content is seen as unfamiliar, lacking intimacy, and not persuasive enough to convince viewers to go to the theaters.

Lead actress Nguyễn Lâm Thảo Tâm fails to make a big impression on viewers (Photo: Film crew)

Expert Nguyễn Phong Việt shared with Dân trí reporters: "This will be the biggest upset for Lê Thanh Sơn. The case of Claw is similar to the movie The Price of Happiness. The crew is meticulous, dedicated, the visual aspect is well invested, but the story in the film does not attract viewers. This is a matter of a dish that doesn't suit the audience, not bad cooking."

According to my observation, on the first day of release, Claw had less than 1,000 screenings, which then decreased gradually each day. For a film to win box office revenue, it must have over 2,000 screenings per day from the initial release. The cinema chains may also not have a very high assessment of the film's potential."

Director Lê Thanh Sơn (left corner) directing on the set (Photo: Film crew)

Mr. Nguyễn Phong Việt further stated that Lê Thanh Sơn had previously succeeded with Sweet 18 and Dragon Trap, but is not a "box office guarantee" with today's audience.

In the case of Tuấn Trần, an actor who has starred in many box office hits like Mai, Dad, Forest of South Youth... but this time he does not have a strong foothold to create a ripple effect with the audience.

"Director Lê Thanh Sơn has a reputation in the industry, but today's young audience will find him unfamiliar because of his long hiatus. In the cast, besides Tuấn Trần, the majority are still young faces, not familiar to the public.

Agree that Tuấn Trần is currently a leading male actor, with many films earning hundreds of billions of VND, but this time, Tuấn Trần alone is not enough to create an attractive effect, to get the audience to discuss the film and the cast," the expert analyzed.

Regarding Tuấn Trần's case specifically, Mr. Nguyễn Phong Việt also straightforwardly commented: "After Claw, I think Tuấn Trần will realize that his success in his career is closely tied to Trấn Thành. In previous films like Mai or Dad, the name that attracted viewers to the theaters was not Tuấn Trần but Trấn Thành. The actor benefitted from the director's effect."