Meet Me at the Eclipse North America Release Set After Record $4 Million Vietnam Run

Vietnamese romantic drama Meet Me at the Eclipse (Hẹn Em Ngày Nhật Thực) is crossing the Pacific. The film will open in theaters across North America on May 8, 2026. This news comes after the movie broke records at the Vietnamese box office, collecting over $4 million since its release on March 27.

Distributor Mockingbird Pictures is handling the worldwide release. The film has held the number one spot in Vietnam for three weeks in a row. It now stands as the second highest-grossing original romance film in the country’s history, only behind the 2024 hit Mai.

Director Lê Thiện Viễn and producer Lý Minh Thắng of Cánh Đồng Film created this story about love and second chances. The film uses the 1995 solar eclipse as a symbol for life-changing moments.

A Love Story Tied to a 1995 Solar Eclipse

The movie follows a woman who finds a box of unsent love letters. She travels back to her simple hometown. There, she meets her first love again. This reunion forces her to deal with feelings she thought she had left behind.

The story is set in 1995. The main character An, played by Doan Thien An, faces a big choice. She must pick between Thien, a mysterious electrician played by Khuong Le, and a stable doctor played by Thanh Son. The eclipse acts as a turning point where light and darkness meet, just like the tough decisions in life.

The film does not rely on loud drama or big action scenes. Instead, it uses quiet moments and real emotions. The 1990s setting feels real with old costumes, simple village life, and peaceful scenery. Viewers say the movie brings back memories of first love without being too emotional.

North America and Australia Release Dates

North American audiences can watch Meet Me at the Eclipse starting May 8, 2026. The movie will play at major chains including AMC, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark locations.

One day earlier, on May 7, 2026, the film will open in Australia and New Zealand.

Thanh Tran of Mockingbird Pictures is managing the North American release plan. The company is also talking with distributors in China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Those release dates have not been confirmed yet.

Director Sold His House to Make the Film

Director Lê Thiện Viễn took a big risk to make this movie. He sold his apartment to pay for the production budget of about 19 billion VND (around $750,000). The film has already made back that money and turned a profit.

The director admitted he was surprised by how well the film performed. He had not made a movie for seven years before this one. Some of his earlier projects did not do well. This success means he can buy back his property.

“Our ambition is to position Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cinema as a sustained presence on the global stage – not through isolated breakout titles, but by building a long-term ecosystem where local stories can travel, resonate, and thrive across international markets.” – Phong Duong, business director of Mockingbird Pictures

The film earned 19.2 billion VND in its first weekend. That number went up to 23.9 billion VND in its second weekend. This growth is rare for a romance film. Most movies see their earnings drop after the first week.

Mockingbird Pictures Expands Global Reach

Mockingbird Pictures has been working in Vietnam for ten years. The company puts out more than 60 films in cinemas each year. They also handle over 100 digital titles every year for streaming platforms like Netflix.

This company is now focusing more on sending Vietnamese movies to other countries. The success of Meet Me at the Eclipse helps their plan to make Southeast Asian films a regular part of global cinema.

The film earned over 98 billion VND (about $3.9 million) by April 13, 2026. It is expected to cross 100 billion VND very soon. That number would put it in the elite club of Vietnamese movies to reach that mark. Other films in that club include Rabbit, Oh!!, My Father’s House Has One Room, and The Devil Possesses the Corpse 2.

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