Director Ryu Seung-wan's new film "Humint" has surpassed 1.5 million cumulative viewers and continues its successful run.
On the 23rd, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) box office integrated computer network, the film "Humint" (directed by Ryu Seung-wan, distributed/provided by NEW, produced by Oyunaegang) drew 239,368 viewers from the 20th to the 22nd, recording a cumulative audience of 1,579,016. Since its release, it has maintained a steady flow of viewers, clearing the 1.5 million mark.
"Humint" drew some 116,000 viewers on its opening day on the 11th, starting at No. 1 at the box office. It broadened its audience during the Lunar New Year holiday season and gained word-of-mouth momentum, surpassing 1 million viewers on the afternoon of the 17th, one week after release, accelerating its box office pace. Since then, weekend and weekday audience retention continued, leading to the 1.5 million breakthrough.
At the heart of its success is action. Set in Vladivostok, where secrets and truths are submerged in a cold sea of ice, the story of people with different aims colliding is pushed forward with Ryu Seung-wan–style gun action, hand-to-hand combat and chase sequences. At the same time, the emotional interplay created by Zo In-sung and Park Jeongmin layers a human story over the spy-action exterior, leaving a lingering impression, critics say.
Actual audience reactions are mainly experiential praises such as "action you must see in theaters" and "action and narrative go together," and they have kept audiences coming even after the holiday season. With the post–Lunar New Year tentpole void, cautious projections of long-term box office potential are also being made.
Meanwhile, over the same period the weekend box office No. 1 was taken by "The King's Warden." "Humint" ranked second on the weekend, maintaining a top position and continuing its box office momentum.<
[Photo] Provided by NEW
[OSEN]