California immigrant audiences pack screenings of The King of Trash

New Northern California screenings of The King of Trash are selling out as Vietnamese American and other immigrant families connect with the documentary’s refugee-to-business story. The film has now drawn more than 5,000 viewers on a U.S. preview tour and is set for additional Bay Area dates through Oct. 3.

Why it matters: - The response shows a local immigrant success story resonating far beyond business circles. - Packed screenings in the Bay Area suggest strong demand for films centered on refugee families, labor and generational sacrifice. - The film’s momentum could help drive broader attention to California Waste Solutions, David Duong and the Vietnamese American business community.

What happened: - Northern California screenings of The King of Trash returned after a U.S. tour and quickly filled venues. - The documentary follows David Duong, founder of California Waste Solutions, from a family paper business loss in Vietnam to the buildout of recycling operations in Oakland, San Jose and Ho Chi Minh City. - Organizers added new showings in Hayward, Dublin, San Jose and Emeryville for Sept. 12 to Oct. 3 after early tickets sold out and audience demand remained high. - Nearly 1,000 people reserved seats or joined waitlists for the four added events. - The film drew more than 5,000 people across an eight-city preview circuit in San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Orange County, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C. and Orlando. - The Sept. 26 screening at AMC Eastridge in San Jose is the final VIP preview, with Duong, cast members and director Errol Webber expected to attend. - The film was selected for the 2026 San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival and The Red Rock Film Festival.

The details: - Viewers said the film connected most strongly with refugee and first-generation families who recognized the struggle of arriving with little money, sharing tight housing and working after school. - Audience members at the Hayward screening described the story as a reflection of their own family history and the long path from hardship to stability. - The Duong family arrived in San Francisco after the fall of Saigon, spent a year in a Philippine camp and crossed by boat before settling in the Bay Area. - Multiple relatives lived in two Tenderloin studios while the family collected cardboard, office paper and cans to pay bills. - By the end of the 1980s, the family had seven trucks and an Oakland contract. - California Waste Solutions was founded in 1992. - In the film, Duong says the company started with $700 and later won what he describes as billion-dollar contracts across the Bay Area and Vietnam. - California Waste Solutions now processes about 1,000 tons a week in Oakland and up to 1,300 tons a week in San Jose. - Vietnam Waste Solutions, formed in 2005 as a wholly owned affiliate, runs an integrated facility in Ho Chi Minh City. - The film also shows Duong advancing funds and route training so other families can buy their first trucks. - The documentary takes its title from his late father, Jim Thu Tai Duong, also known as “Vua Rác,” or The King of Trash. - The film is available for screening and media information at the official site and California Waste Solutions.

Between the lines: - The audience reaction points to a broader appetite for stories that frame immigrant entrepreneurship as family survival, not just corporate growth. - The film appears to work as both a business profile and a cultural memory piece for Vietnamese American viewers and other refugee families. - The emphasis on labor, sacrifice and mutual support may be why attendees are asking for streaming access so relatives who missed the screenings can watch. - The added interest in San Jose reflects both the city’s role as a CWS service area and its large Vietnamese American population.

What's next: - Dublin is set for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Regal Hacienda Crossings from 5 to 7 p.m. - San Jose follows on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at AMC Eastridge from 4 to 8 p.m. - Emeryville is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at AMC Bay Street Emeryville from 5 to 8 p.m. - Hayward’s Sept. 12 screening at Cinemark Century was already sold out. - Organizers are treating San Jose as the close of the VIP preview series. - A streaming release has not been announced, but some attendees are already asking for one so more family members can see the film.

The bottom line: - The King of Trash has become more than a documentary release; in Northern California, it is landing as a shared immigrant experience with real audience pull.