The film The King's Warden (hereinafter The King's Warden) finally surpassed 10 million viewers, and another 10-million film, The King and the Man, with a similar box office success is drawing attention.
The King's Warden (director Jang Hang-jun, distributor SHOWBOX, production Onda Works Co., Ltd. · BA Entertainment Co., Ltd.) surpassed 10 million cumulative viewers around 6:32 p.m. on March 6, the 31st day since its release. Following The King and the Man, Masquerade and The Admiral: Roaring Currents, which sparked a nationwide craze for historical dramas, it became the fourth historical film in history to reach 10 million viewers, and marked the first 10-million film in two years since The Roundup: Punishment, which opened in 2024.
On the morning of the 7th, according to the Korea Film Council (KOFIC) integrated ticketing network, The King's Warden's real-time reservation rate was in the high 60s percentile. The number of reserved tickets surpassed 420,000, a record comparable to the peak on Independence Movement Day. With repeat viewings by those who have already seen the film and prospective viewers rushing in after hearing the 10-million news, reservation rates have surged. The film continued to boast strong box office power even after reaching 10 million.
In fact, almost no one predicted The King's Warden would reach 10 million. Although it received many favorable reviews immediately after the press screening, there is a saying that "10 million is granted by heaven," meaning that favorable reviews alone cannot reach that dream number. Director Jang Hang-jun even admitted on SBS PowerFM Bae Seong-jae's Ten, "I was discouraged when I saw the opening day score. Honestly, I expected around 200,000, but it was 110,000, so I thought 'it won't work again.'" Afterward, everyone involved with The King's Warden hoped it would surpass the break-even point of 2.6 million, and the production company representative said, "If it really did well, we expected 5 million." However, word of mouth proved more decisive than any promotional marketing, rescuing the struggling Korean film industry and bringing the glory of 10 million viewers.
The King and the Man, released in 2005, was also not a film that attracted attention in its early days. Director Lee Joon returned to producing for a while after his debut film Kid Cop (1993) failed at the box office. He was re-evaluated with Hwangsanbeol (2003) and presented The King and the Man, but many concerns arose because he cast the then-unknown newcomer Lee Joon-gi in the lead.
But when The King and the Man was released, audience reactions changed 180 degrees, and as time passed, purely by the film's strength and through word of mouth among viewers, it miraculously surpassed 10 million. As a result, it earned the title of Korea's first historical film to reach 10 million viewers and is still cited as a representative example of word-of-mouth box office success.
The King and the Man and The King's Warden, which reached the 10 million milestone through powerful word of mouth, also share several interesting similarities.
First, both films feature Yoo Hai Jin, who played the supporting role Yuk-gap in The King and the Man and the main title role Eom Heung-do in The King's Warden. The King and the Man was Yoo Hai Jin's first 10-million film, and The King's Warden became his fifth 10-million film.
Gam Woosung and Lee Joon-gi, Yoo Hai Jin and Park Jihoon, and others in the two films display a 'bromance' chemistry that was an indispensable element drawing many viewers to theaters. In particular, screen newcomer Lee Joon-gi truly became an overnight star through The King and the Man, dominating the advertising industry and popularizing the phrase "pretty boy." Park Jihoon made his film debut in The King's Warden and became a 10-million actor, now establishing himself as the most watched rising star. It is also notable that both Lee Joon-gi and Park Jihoon became the leads of 10-million films while in their 20s.
In addition, Jang Won-seok, the representative of BA Entertainment, the production company of The King's Warden, previously served as production manager on The King and the Man. Director Jang Hang-jun said, "Director Lee Joon and actor Gam Woosung also mentioned this, but The King and the Man was originally a play titled Yi. The person who first suggested to Director Lee Joon that 'this should be made into a film' was representative Jang Won-seok. If he hadn't suggested it, the film might not have come into the world. Gam Woosung was said to be the prime mover of The King and the Man," he added.
[Photo] Posters and still cuts from each film
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