The 44th Doraemon movie once again proves the enduring power of the beloved robot cat in Vietnam, crushing all local competition during its early screenings.

Doraemon: Nobita’s Adventure in the Painting World surged to the top of the box office, collecting nearly VND 27 billion (approx. USD 1.06 million) after just three days in theaters, with 285,577 tickets sold, according to Box Office Vietnam.

In this new installment, Doraemon and friends enter the world of a famous painting using a never-before-seen gadget. There, they meet a mysterious girl named Claire and her friends, embarking on a quest to find the precious gem "Artoria Blue" and uncover a secret that could determine the fate of the entire world.

Meanwhile, Detective Kien claimed the runner-up spot at the box office over the weekend with VND 14.4 billion (USD 566,000), pushing its total gross to VND 229 billion (approx. USD 9 million).

Notably, it surpassed Face Off 8 both in rank and in overall earnings - Face Off 8 currently stands at VND 220 billion. Over the weekend, it was even overtaken by the Korean action thriller Yadang: Triple Cross.

Yadang: Triple Cross made a strong debut at number three, earning VND 10 billion (USD 393,000). Another new release, the horror film Until Dawn: The Terrifying Thursday Secret, pulled in VND 6.3 billion (USD 248,000) over its first three days. In contrast, the much-anticipated musical documentary Rain of Fire – Brother Against All Odds underperformed, generating just VND 6 billion and landing in sixth place.

With the official wide release of Doraemon: Nobita’s Adventure in the Painting World set for this weekend, box office analysts predict little change in the rankings. The film is expected to continue its reign alongside Disney’s animated contender Lilo & Stitch.

My Anh