Gains Momentum at the Box Office Thanks to Word of Mouth During Lunar New Year and March 1st Holidays
Surpasses the Pace of Previous Historical Films That Reached 10 Million Viewers
Poised to Become the First 10-Million Viewer Hit in Two Years Since "The Roundup: Punishment"
Director Jang Hangjun's film "The Man Who Lives with the King" has surpassed a cumulative audience of 9 million just 27 days after its release.
According to distributor Showbox on March 2, as of around 2 p.m. that day, the film had attracted a cumulative total of 9,001,818 viewers. The movie gained momentum at the box office through word of mouth during the holiday period spanning Lunar New Year and the March 1st Movement Day. Notably, on March 1st alone, it drew 817,205 viewers, setting a new record for the highest single-day audience since its release.
The pace of its success is faster than any previous historical films that reached the 10 million mark. "The King and the Clown," which first achieved this feat among historical films in 2005, took 50 days to reach 9 million viewers, while the 2012 hit "Masquerade" surpassed the milestone in 31 days.
"The Man Who Lives with the King" tells the story of the deposed King Danjong (portrayed by Park Jihoon), who spends his final days of exile in Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, with local village head Eom Heungdo (played by Yoo Haejin) and other commoners. The film delivers a powerful depiction of his emotional connection with ordinary people amid the tense, ice-cold atmosphere created by Han Myeonghoe (played by Yoo Jitae), a central figure of power.
Given the current steep increase in audience numbers, it appears highly likely that the film will soon reach the 10 million-viewer milestone. If it does, the Korean film industry will welcome a new 10 million hit for the first time in two years, following "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment" in 2024.
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