Movie The King's Warden's box office storm has refocused attention on director Jang Hang-jun's previous film Rebound, which is set for a re-release.
The King's Warden surpassed 10 million cumulative viewers as of 6:32 p.m. on March 6, its 31st day after release. It became the fourth historical film to reach 10 million viewers after The King's Man, Masquerade, and The Admiral: Roaring Currents, cementing its place as 2026's biggest hit. It also injected new life into theaters as the first 10-million-viewer film in about two years since The Roundup: Punishment in 2024.
Significant records continued for the film's key players. Yoo Hai Jin, who played Um Heung-do, the village head of Gwangcheon-gol, set the remarkable record of his fifth 10-million-viewer film, and Yoo Ji-tae, who played the powerful figure Han Myung-hoe, achieved his first 10-million-viewer film in his acting career. Park Jihoon, who left a strong impression as the late king Lee Hong-wi, also claimed the 10-million- viewer title with his first commercial film debut, marking a meaningful achievement.
In the midst of this hot box office, director Jang Hang-jun's previous film Rebound is receiving renewed attention. Jang Won-seok, CEO of BA Entertainment, said on SBS PowerFM Bae Seong-jae's Ten, I plan a small-scale re-release of Rebound on April 5 to mark its third anniversary since opening. Rebound, which opened in 2023, was based on the true story of Busan Jungang High School's basketball team, which reached the national finals in 2012; it was directed by Jang Hang-jun and adapted with participation from his wife, writer Kim Eun, generating anticipation, but it left a disappointing box office record of about 700,000 viewers.
Director Jang Hang-jun later spoke candidly about his feelings on variety programs. He appeared on You Quiz on the Block and recalled, I worked on that project for five years, and when I saw the audience numbers on opening day, I felt devastated, noting it was similar to the despair a farmer feels after a year's work when the crop yield is poor.
He added, I cried my eyes out at home. I called acquaintances and said, 'I'm ruined,' and one person jokingly asked, Isn't that a Maltese with tear stains?, which made him burst out laughing. He added, It was the first time in my life that I felt so down for a whole week. He said his wife, writer Kim Eun-hee's, comfort was a great strength. Jang said, When I cried, my wife cried with me, and our daughter who saw that cried too, so the three of us ended up crying together, and I felt happy that I had a family who would cry with me.
He said he felt another burden preparing his new film The King's Warden. About the solid casting, he said, Kim Eun-hee told me, 'There are no more excuses,' and he admitted, I was so worried because the cast left no gaps that I lost sleep. But the result was a huge success. The King's Warden surpassed 10 million viewers, once again proving director Jang Hang-jun's mettle.
Though he once cried over a past box office failure, the situation is now completely different. Riding the momentum of a 10-million-viewer hit and with a re-release of his previous film Rebound approaching, attention is focused on director Jang Hang-jun's efforts to strike while the iron is hot. <
[Photo] 'Broadcast screen
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