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“Theater Revenue Tops KRW 1 Trillion from January to September 2026, the Highest for the Period Since the Pandemic”

Theater revenue tops KRW 1 trillion from January to September 2026, the highest for the period since the pandemic

Cumulative total revenue for January–September 2026 reached KRW 1.0007 trillion, with 96.89 million admissions. This is an increase of 35.9% (KRW 264.6 billion) and 28.8% (21.69 million) year-on-year, respectively. Last year, revenue passed KRW 1 trillion and admissions passed 100 million only in December. This year, revenue crossed KRW 1 trillion within three quarters and admissions are nearing 100 million, the highest revenue and admissions for the period since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Q3 2026 (July–September), total film revenue was KRW 423.4 billion and admissions were 39.96 million, up 29.0% (KRW 95.1 billion) and 22.2% (7.25 million) year-on-year, respectively. The foreign films The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, along with the Korean film Hope, performed strongly and drove the growth of the overall market in Q3.

Korean films record KRW 122.7 billion in revenue and 11.93 million admissions in Q3

In Q3, Korean films earned KRW 122.7 billion in revenue and drew 11.93 million admissions, down 9.8% (KRW 13.3 billion) and 15.2% (2.13 million) year-on-year, respectively. Even so, Korean films including Hope made up half (five titles) of the overall top 10 for Q3. In July, the success of Hope lifted revenue and admissions above the same month last year. In September, a string of highly anticipated titles opened ahead of the Chuseok holiday, and revenue and admissions again rose year-on-year. However, strong foreign films and the concentration of Korean releases in September led to a steep drop in August revenue and admissions. As a result, total Korean film revenue and admissions for Q3 declined from the same period last year.

Foreign films’ Q3 revenue rises 56.4% year-on-year, driven by two blockbusters

Foreign films were strong in Q3, accounting for 71.0% of total film revenue. Foreign films earned KRW 300.6 billion in revenue and drew 28.03 million admissions in Q3, up 56.4% (KRW 108.4 billion) and 50.4% (9.39 million) year-on-year, respectively. The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day ranked first and second among foreign films in Q3. Together they earned KRW 227.7 billion, or 75.7% of all foreign film revenue in the quarter, and led the growth of foreign films.

The Odyssey becomes this year’s second “10-million film” and tops the Q3 box office

The Odyssey ranked No. 1 at the overall Q3 box office with KRW 134.3 billion in revenue and 11.86 million admissions. It became the year’s second film to pass 10 million admissions, after The King’s Warden. The film set off a craze for IMAX viewing and earned KRW 39.1 billion from special-format screenings. Of that, IMAX accounted for KRW 29.0 billion, or 21.6% of the film’s total revenue. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (KRW 93.4 billion; 9.04 million admissions) and Hope (KRW 49.1 billion; 4.59 million admissions) followed in second and third place for Q3, respectively.

Animated film David tops the Q3 independent and art-house box office