Forgot password

South Korea’s theatrical market recorded a total revenue of KRW 98.2 billion and 9.83 million moviegoers in October 2025. Compared to the same month last year, revenue increased by 59.7% (KRW 36.7 billion) and admissions rose by 56.5% (3.55 million). Thanks to the long holiday period ― from October 3 to 9, covering National Foundation Day, weekends, Chuseok, and Hangul Day ― Korean films Boss and No Other Choice showed strong performances, while Japanese animations including Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle also contributed largely to the market growth.

Korean films grossed KRW 51.4 billion with 5.27 million admissions, up 66.9% (KRW 20.6 billion) and 71.7% (2.2 million) year-on-year. Mid-budget comedies Boss and No Other Choice led the rise, significantly boosting Korean cinema performance compared to October 2024. Meanwhile, foreign films recorded KRW 46.8 billion and 4.55 million admissions, driven especially by the success of Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc, which increased foreign film revenue by 52.6% (KRW 16.1 billion) and admissions by 42.0% (1.35 million) year-on-year.

At the top of the October box office, Boss — a mid-budget comedy centered on gangsters — achieved KRW 23.1 billion in revenue and 2.41 million admissions. Contrary to the usual trend of major blockbusters dominating the Chuseok season, Boss reached No.1, proving the market potential of mid-scale titles amid declining theater attendance. Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc ranked second with KRW 22.2 billion and 2.10 million admissions, followed by Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung-hun, which placed third with KRW 16.4 billion and 1.67 million admissions. Despite strong international buzz — including pre-sales in over 200 countries and the Best Director Award at the 58th Sitges Film Festival — the film underperformed domestically, reflecting the recent decline in traditional star-power-driven box office success.

Japanese animation continues its powerful run. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, released in August, reached KRW 59.9 billion and 5.55 million admissions by the end of October, becoming the No.1 film of 2025 (Jan–Oct cumulative). Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc followed with KRW 28.3 billion and 2.68 million cumulative admissions. With this, Japanese films exceeded 30% of the monthly market share for the second consecutive month.

In the independent and arthouse sector, Japanese thriller Exit 8 ranked No.1 with KRW 2.463 billion and 253,776 admissions, while the Korean animated feature Letter from Yeon ranked second with KRW 2.010 billion and 214,397 admissions. Director Yoon Ga-eun’s Queen of the World ranked third with KRW 485.5 million and 51,921 admissions. As of November 16, the film has surpassed the lifetime performance of Yoon’s previous works The World of Us (2016) and The House of Us (2019), with KRW 1.048 billion and 108,561 cumulative admissions, continuing its successful run.