Korean Box Office Hit 'The Roundup' Nears 15 Million Viewers

The film "The Moon and the Man" (Wang-sa-nam) is nearing the 15 million viewer mark, having recorded a cumulative audience of 14.84 million in its seventh week of release. This surpasses "Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds," which ranks third in box office history, and sets a new benchmark by grossing 143.3 billion won, exceeding "Extreme Job" (139.6 billion won), the previous record holder for highest box office revenue. If the current trend continues, it is also likely to challenge "Extreme Job" (16.26 million viewers), which is second in box office history.

"Wang-sa-nam" has not only attracted a large audience but also set a new record for box office revenue. This is interpreted as a combined result of factors such as the expansion of premium screening rooms and rising ticket prices, demonstrating that revenue, alongside audience numbers, is becoming an important indicator of box office success, shifting from a focus solely on audience count.

Since its release, the film has shown a "long-run hit" pattern, attracting a wide range of audiences from middle-aged and older viewers to families, driven by word-of-mouth. Despite the recent release of the sci-fi film "Project Hail Mary" as a competitor, "Wang-sa-nam"'s audience numbers have remained stable, proving its irreplaceable status as content.

The industry anticipates that "Wang-sa-nam"'s box office success will continue for the time being. If the upward trend persists even after surpassing 15 million viewers, there is a possibility of achieving a "double record" by simultaneously breaking both the all-time audience count and revenue records.

"Wang-sa-nam" is a historical drama depicting the story of King Danjong, the sixth king of Joseon, and Eom Heung-do, who protected him. The film has received critical acclaim for the ensemble acting of actors like Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon, and its character-driven narrative, drawing in a broad audience across generations.