Vietnam Remake of ‘Miss Granny’ Is Top Local Title of 2015
Co-produced by Korean entertainment giant CJ Entertainment and Vietnam’s HK Film, “Sweet 20” has become the second highest grossing local film of all time in Vietnam.
According to CJ Entertainment, “Sweet 20” has made $4.41 million since its Dec. 11, 2015, release, staying on top of the local box office for 17 days in a row.
Directed by Phan Gia Nhat Linh, “Sweet 20” is a Vietnamese remake of Korean hit “Miss Granny.” The body-swap romantic comedy features a 70-year-old woman who transforms into a young woman in her 20s. A director’s cut is set for a Feb. 5 release.
“Miss Granny” is CJ Entertainment’s signature homegrown global project, which spearheads the company’s “one source multiterritory” strategy, through which original content is localized in several territories in order to cater to audience tastes.
“Miss Granny” was released in January 2014 in Korea and earned $53.7 million from 8.65 million admissions. A Chinese adaptation, “20, Once Again!,” grossed $57.4 million, which made it the biggest ever Korea-China co-production in China.
The picture’s Japanese remake is currently set for a local theatrical release in April, with further retreads being developed in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Germany.
“’Sweet 20′ started attracting the local audience through its high-quality localization, which differentiates it from other Vietnamese films,” said Kini Kim, CJ Entertainment’s head of international sales & distribution team. “The touching soundtrack and superior performance of the actors have also drawn much of the attention and supported the success of the film.”
CJ has made a big push into Vietnam since it bought the Megastar cinema chain in 2011 to launch itself as the leading exhibitor in the country. It has since established itself as a major film importer and distributor. In 2015 CJ stated to produce two to three local films every year and to distribute at least 10 films in Vietnam.
The company’s first Vietnamese film production, 2015’s “Let Hoi Decide,” is the biggest local film of all time in the country.
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