Vietnamese whodunit “Karaoke Murder” will open in cinemas across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia on the same weekend, a first for a film from Vietnam, according to its backers.
The film, titled “Án Mạng Karaoke” in Vietnamese, will bow nationwide at home on Oct. 30. U.S.-based specialty distributor 3388 Films will release it that same weekend in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, landing in time for Halloween. 3388 Films holds exclusive international rights in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan.
“Karaoke Murder” is Hoang Le’s first film as director. Director-producer Vo Thanh Hoa of 89s Group serves as creative director, with Mai Bao Ngoc producing. 89s Group and F35 Studio are the production companies. The ensemble cast includes Doan Thien An, Thanh Son, Dai Nghia, Van Dung, Phuong Dung, Tieu Bao Ngoc, Tuyen Map, Quynh Ly, Ta Lam and Trinh Thao.
Set on a mountain pilgrimage taken by a group of neighbors, the film follows a former journalist who has to put her old investigative skills back to work after a widely loathed, karaoke-obsessed tycoon is killed overnight. With the group cut off from the outside world, suspicion falls on everyone.
Thien A. Pham, founder of 3388 Films, said the company had previously distributed titles on four continents as part of their international rollouts. “Aligning an international release with a film’s local date is a significant breakthrough moment. It’s what we’ve advocated for years because we believe greater momentum can be generated for international films when local and international release dates sync up,” Pham said. “It’s energizing to have gutsy partners, like the producers of ‘Karaoke Murder,’ as 3388 Films continues to redefine possibilities for Asian films.”
The producers said they built the story around karaoke because of the place it holds in Vietnamese life. Singing sessions are part of weddings, birthdays and Lunar New Year, as well as ordinary Sunday afternoons, and nearly every household owns a speaker and microphone. The pastime also causes friction. Vietnam penalizes noise after 10 p.m., karaoke ranks among the most common causes of rows between neighbors and news outlets report karaoke disputes ending in tragedy every year, according to the producers.
“We’re proud – but above all, grateful,” said Vo. “For years, our belief has been simple: ‘win at home first – then travel with your own voice.’ We make films for Vietnamese audiences before anyone else.”
Vo said 89s Group’s films had grossed more than VND600 billion ($23 million) at the Vietnamese box office between 2023 and 2026. “That foundation gives us the confidence to step onto the world stage – not by imitating others, but with our own voice,” Vo said. “I hope the Vietnamese diaspora will feel a little piece of home when they watch ‘Karaoke Murder.’ And I hope international audiences leave the theater a little more curious about Vietnamese cinema – and perhaps a little more careful the next time they pick up a microphone.”
3388 Films has specialized in Asian content for more than 20 years. Its recent releases include “Mai,” the first Vietnamese film to cross $2 million at the North American and European box office.