Could the movie 'Exorcist' become Korea's 'The First Slam Dunk'?
The movie 'Exorcist' (directed by Kim Dong-chul, original creator Lee Woo-hyuk, produced by Locus, distributed by SHOWBOX) has risen to the top of the box office while generating buzz and showing early signs of success driven by excitement from core fans of the original.
'Exorcist' recently captured the hearts of 30 to 40-year-old fans of the original with ticket sales distributions on the CGV website showing 13.9% for those in their 20s, 32.9% for those in their 30s, and 33% for those in their 40s, signaling a potential blockbuster syndrome following 'The First Slam Dunk.'
Released in January 2023, the film 'The First Slam Dunk' attracted a cumulative 4.9 million viewers, with over 70% of the initial ticket sales coming from the 30 to 40-year-old demographic, who showed a strong response due to their nostalgic connection to the original. This word-of-mouth frenzy expanded the audience to those in their 10s to 20s, forming a new fanbase and resulting in the 10 to 20 age group's ticket sales rising from 15% on opening day to 30% after a month.
'Exorcist' also captured core fans with an impressive CGV Golden Egg Index of 96% and a high ticket sales distribution of 65% among the 30 to 40-year-olds right after its release, receiving acclaim for perfectly showcasing the original's solid universe, stunning occult action, and the charm of its characters. Following this enthusiastic response, the film's popularity is spreading to the 10 to 20-year-old demographic, indicating a noteworthy resurgence.
Audience members who watched the film expressed their fandom through various means, including comments like, "K-Occult is more precious than ginseng, I wish all 50 million South Koreans would watch it" (X gorx**), as well as fan art and comic reviews. Additionally, other comments included, "You don't need to know the original to enjoy it. I'm an occult fan, and it was so much fun" (Naver shna**), "This work is the start of K-Occult!" (Naver come**), and "The occult atmosphere and action direction were amazing. It's worthy of the original creator's recognition" (Naver park**), indicating great anticipation for future box office success.
The occult blockbuster 'Exorcist,' depicting the beginning of a grand narrative where exorcists with special abilities confront absolute evil, is based on the eponymous novel, a bestseller with over 10 million copies sold and established as the bible of 'K-Occult.' The original creator Lee Woo-hyuk participated directly in the project, generating significant buzz. The film is currently playing in theaters.
[Photo] Provided by Locus, SHOWBOX.