On the afternoon of 21/2, a representative from Galaxy, the film's distributor, announced that legal records had been established against several social media accounts that posted partial or full unauthorized recordings of the film from inside theaters.
"We are working with authorities to verify the source of dissemination, trace individuals and organizations involved, and use this as a basis for legal action," the producer's representative stated.
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An account posted a secretly filmed video of a scene from 'Tho Oi', attracting over 500,000 views. Screenshot |
Over the past few days, many people on TikTok have uploaded phone-recorded videos capturing the film's ending, revealing key plot details. Dialogues from characters Hai Linh (LyLy), Nhat Ha (Phao), and The Phong (Vinh Dam) during their arguments were also recorded, exposing the mastermind behind the love triangle conflict in the film. Many of these videos garnered tens of thousands of interactions and nearly one million views.
Director Tran Thanh expressed his frustration over the secret filming. "Filmmaking is always challenging, requiring the effort of many people to create a work. Please allow audiences who have not yet seen the film in theaters to have the most complete experience," he urged.
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Character Nhat Ha (Phao) in a scene near the end of the film. Photo: Film crew provided |
The issue of secretly filming movies and uploading them to social media has caused widespread frustration, particularly during Tet, a peak season for cinema releases. During Tet 2023, Tran Thanh's film "Nha Ba Nu" and Vu Ngoc Dang's "Chi Chi Em Em 2" also had crucial plot details "spoiled" on TikTok. In 2024, "Co Dau Hao Mon" had significant segments leaked, revealing the main character's identity. Director Vu Ngoc Dang noted that secret filming affects film revenue, especially when a project has just been released and has a long distribution path ahead.
Film production companies find it difficult to quantify the financial damage, as the leaked segments are often pivotal scenes within the main narrative. The poor quality of secretly filmed videos also impacts audience decisions to watch films during holidays like Tet.
According to Article 27 of Decree 131/2013/ND-CP, which regulates administrative penalties for copyright and related rights infringements, unauthorized copying of audio or visual recordings is subject to fines ranging from 15 million VND to 35 million VND. Under Article 225 of the Penal Code 2015, concerning copyright and related rights infringement, offenders may face fines from 300 million VND to one billion VND, or imprisonment from six months to three years, if they gain illicit profits of 300 million VND or more, or cause damages of 500 million VND or more to copyright holders.
'Tho Oi' achieved box office success, grossing nearly 200 billion VND after five days of release. The plot revolves around Hai Linh, the MC of the popular talk show "Chi Bo Vai", where she listens to anonymous guests' stories and offers advice. Hai Linh is portrayed as a rational woman who understands the essence of problems. Complications arise when Nhat Ha (Phao) shares personal issues on the show, drawing Hai Linh into secrets beyond her control.
Mai Nhat
