Get ready for some exciting news! The highly anticipated film ‘Gunchae’ made a spectacular debut on May 21st, soaring straight to the top of the box office! According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, the movie drew an incredible 199,768 viewers on its opening day. When you include pre-screenings, the cumulative audience count rockets to an impressive 218,304!
This isn’t just a win; it’s a *domination*! ‘Gunchae’ has officially claimed the title for the highest opening score of any film released this year. It effortlessly surpassed the previous record holder, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (which had 150,767 viewers), by a whopping 48,000+ viewers! Not only that, but it also shattered the first-day records of other major hits like ‘The Man Who Lived with the King’ (117,783 viewers) and the long-running success ‘Salmokji’ (89,911 viewers).
What’s all the buzz about? ‘Gunchae’ already made waves globally with its world premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival! This thrilling movie plunges viewers into a desperate struggle for survival as characters battle evolving infected individuals trapped inside a building sealed off by a mysterious outbreak. And the cast? Absolutely star-studded! Featuring powerhouse actors like Jeon Ji-hyun, Goo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Shin-rok, and Go Soo, their intense acting ensemble and heart-pounding suspense have already earned rave reviews from real viewers on opening day!
The arrival of ‘Gunchae’ has completely shaken up the box office! The biopic ‘Michael’, celebrating the King of Pop Michael Jackson, had been reigning supreme at #1 for eight consecutive days. But on this day, with 29,293 viewers, it gracefully stepped down to second place. Still, ‘Michael’ is proving its staying power, boasting an impressive cumulative audience of 807,720!
Snatching third place is the fabulous ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, starring the iconic duo Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep! It charmed 9,413 viewers in a single day, bringing its cumulative audience to a dazzling 1,497,605 – almost hitting the 1.5 million mark!
And for all the anime lovers, two Japanese animated films with devoted fanbases landed side-by-side in the top 5! ‘Gintama: The Movie: Yoshiwara Great Conflagration’ secured 4th place with 4,094 viewers (and a cumulative 17,567). Meanwhile, making its grand debut on opening day, ‘The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie’ grabbed 5th place, attracting 3,895 viewers (with a cumulative 3,895).
Even with a wave of new releases, ‘Salmokji’ continues to impress! This Korean horror film, which has been a long-standing box office champion and a game-changer for the genre, secured 7th place with 2,916 viewers. Its cumulative audience count is now a staggering 3,199,026, putting it tantalizingly close to breaking the 3.2 million mark!
