Actor Lee Min-ho in a scene from an upcoming fantasy movie “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
As the summer movie season approaches, Korea’s film industry is bracing for a pivotal period, with both domestic and Hollywood studios unveiling a slate of big-budget blockbusters in hopes of reversing a disappointing first half of the year at the box office.
Despite a few surprise hits, the Korean cinema market has struggled to regain its prepandemic momentum.
This year, the highest-grossing film so far is local crime movie “Yadang: The Snitch,” which has drawn just over 3.37 million viewers since its April release. This figure is significantly lower compared to last year’s box office hits “Exhuma” and “The Roundup: Punishment,” each of which surpassed the 11 million admissions mark in the first half of 2024.
Even highly anticipated releases have struggled. Director Bong Joon-ho’s Hollywood sci-fi film “Mickey 17” and Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” both fell short of expectations, each drawing just over 3 million viewers.
The local box office is now looking to the summer season for a turnaround, as a diverse lineup of big budget films is set to hit theaters.
The season will kick off Thursday with Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later,” the long-awaited sequel to the genre-defining zombie franchise. The film follows a group of survivors living on an isolated island who must confront a new breed infected on the mainland, with Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell among the cast.
Actor Brad Pitt in a scene from “F1: The Movie” / Courtesy of Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
Just days later, on June 25, “F1: The Movie” will roar into cinemas. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for his work on “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022), the film stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris as a legendary racer and his rookie teammate.
The Jurassic Park franchise returns on July 2 with “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” helmed by Gareth Edwards and starring Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. The story follows a team venturing to a perilous island in search of dinosaur DNA, only to uncover long-buried secrets.
Superhero movies will also hit theaters next month. DC Studio’s “Superman” opens on July 9. Directed by James Gunn, the film features new Superman David Corenswet and aims to reinvigorate the DC Universe with Gunn’s signature wit and character-driven storytelling.
Marvel Studios is also preparing to launch “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” next month. Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the film follows a group of astronauts who acquire extraordinary powers and must defend the planet from the cosmic threat of Galactus.
Actors Jo Jung-suk, left, and Choi Yu-ri are seen in a poster for an upcoming film “My Daughter is a Zombie.” Courtesy of NEW
Korean productions are set to make their mark from next month, led by “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet.”
Based on a globally popular web novel “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint,” the fantasy epic stars Lee Min-ho, Ahn Hyo-seop and Jisoo, who is also a member of the K-pop band BLACKPINK.
The film boasts a production budget of approximately 30 billion won ($22 million) — a notably large amount for a Korean production. It tells the story of a lone reader who must navigate a world where his favorite novel has become reality. With its strong fan base and international appeal, the film is widely seen as a potential game-changer for the domestic box office.
Another highly anticipated local release is “My Daughter is a Zombie,” a comedic take on the zombie genre starring Jo Jung-suk, Cho Yeo-jeong and Lee Jung-eun. Adapted from a popular online comic of the same title, the film centers on a father’s desperate efforts to protect his zombie daughter, blending humor with horror elements.
