Actor Jo Jung-suk's "choice" is gaining attention again.
Jo Jung-suk is rewriting box office records with the film "My Daughter is a Zombie" (distributed by NEW, produced by Studio N, directed by Pil Kam-seong), which was released on the 30th of last month. Immediately after its release, it broke the records for both the highest opening score of the year and the highest opening score for a Korean comedy film in history. On the 16th, according to the Korean Film Council, "My Daughter is a Zombie" sparked a box office sensation, surpassing 4.04 million cumulative viewers and achieving the highest score of the year. Moreover, it has the honor of being invited to the Panorama section of the competition at the 58th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.
What urged audiences to the theaters more than anything else was Jo Jung-suk's name. Since the film "Architecture 101" to "My Love, My Bride," "The Drug King," "Exit," and now "My Daughter is a Zombie," he has created box office sensations with each work, transforming from a "trustworthy actor" to a "summer box office unbeatable cheat code." Therefore, we looked back at Jo Jung-suk's filmography, which is writing a box office invincibility myth.
First, Jo Jung-suk made a strong impression playing the role of "Nap-deugi" in the 2012 film "Architecture 101" with a small amount of screen time but displaying a witty performance that firmly engraved his name in the minds of the audience.
In the films "My Love, My Bride" and "The Drug King," he fleshed out a foolish husband named "Young-min" and a lesser brother named "Du-sik" who successfully got paroled under the guise of being a national representative sibling, showcasing a wide range of acting from comedy to drama and solidifying his status as a trustworthy actor.
In the film "Exit," Jo Jung-suk perfectly transformed into the slacker Yong-nam in every aspect, from his expressions to his speech and movements, playing a pivotal role in the plot and revealing his unique presence. His portrayal of Yong-nam, completed with innate stunt skills and instinctive sensitivity, completely captured the public's heart in the summer of 2019, drawing in 9.42 million viewers.
Furthermore, in last year's summer blockbuster, the film "Pilot," which starred Jo Jung-suk in a leading role, he played both the star pilot "Han Jung-woo" and his sister "Han Jung-mi," who successfully re-entered the workforce. He made the characters entirely his own, to the point where it was unimaginable to think of them as anyone other than Jo Jung-suk during the 111-minute runtime, proving once again the true value of that name.
Jo Jung-suk's filmography, which accumulates artistic quality, topicality, and box office success without missing a beat, has led audiences to believe that "Jo Jung-suk's works are worth watching."
Jo Jung-suk's intense performances, which make the ordinary feel special, depict the character's joys and sorrows, creating a strong sense of empathy among viewers, making them laugh and cry, and drawing them deeper into the story.
In the film industry, while it is true that Jo Jung-suk has been fortunate in his steps and achievements, it is said that he also possesses a good eye for script selection and a keen ability to choose projects. One associate commented, "Jo Jung-suk seems to have a well-developed self-reflection and accurately catches roles that suit him well. However, being able to gradually solidify his position without becoming predictable is likely due to his good discernment in project selection and the thick admiration he receives within the industry."
[Photo] OSEN DB, movie poster-still
[OSEN]