SBS Star

'The Assassin(s)' Dominates Korean Box Office for 60 Days Despite Fierce Controversy

newsservice@sbs.co.kr(SBS Star) — Thu, 5 Nov 2026 14:33:00 +0900

The film "The Assassin(s)" recorded the strongest box office performance during September and October, months stirred by controversy.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets, "The Assassin(s)" drew 1,766,839 and 1,665,928 moviegoers in September and October, respectively, ranking No. 1 at the Korean film box office and No. 2 at the overall box office for two consecutive months.

In particular, after reaching No. 1 on the monthly Korean film box office just eight days after its release on September 23, it held onto the top spot in October as well, showing off exceptional box office staying power. It also recorded dominant shares of Korean film theatrical gross—40.3% in September and 44.7% in October—solidly playing the leading role in driving the domestic box office.

This is a meaningful achievement built on the milestones it steadily accumulated since opening. After drawing 1.5 million moviegoers in its first five days during opening week, "The Assassin(s)" continued its momentum into October by surpassing 3 million admissions in just 20 days, entering the top 4 highest-grossing Korean films of 2026, and ranking No. 1 on both the weekly and weekend Korean film box office charts for five consecutive weeks through its fifth week in theaters.

On Thursday, October 29, the film reached a fruitful milestone by surpassing 3.4 million cumulative admissions and crossing its break-even point.

"The Assassin(s)" depicts a narrative tracking the suspicions and forces behind the assassination of the First Lady on August 15, 1974, an event that shocked South Korea. However, starting from its opening week, attacks from political circles alleging historical distortion raised red flags over its box office run. Yet the personal attacks from politicians and rallies held by far-right civic groups instead piqued the public's curiosity, sparking a wave of moviegoers determined to "see it with my own eyes and judge." Bolstered by this reaction, "The Assassin(s)" ironically achieved the highest box office results among Korean films released during the two months it was engulfed in controversy.

The box office record of "The Assassin(s)" is all the more meaningful because it is the outcome of solid cinematic quality combined with voluntary choices by audiences. Director Hur Jin-ho's meticulous direction, a gripping investigative narrative, and dense, passionate performances from actors including Yoo Hai-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Minho earned strong support from moviegoers.

The film's artistic merits have also gained recognition on the global stage: after being named a runner-up for the People's Choice International Award at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, it received successive invitations to prestigious festivals worldwide, including the 28th Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, the 37th Singapore International Film Festival, the 21st Paris Korean Film Festival, the 46th Hawaii International Film Festival, and the 29th Philadelphia Film Festival. In particular, following its selection as the opening film for both the Singapore International Film Festival and the Paris Korean Film Festival, it proved enthusiastic interest from overseas audiences by selling out every seat within three minutes of ticketing opening at the Paris Korean Film Festival.

To date, "The Assassin(s)" has drawn 3.46 million viewers nationwide. It will challenge to surpass the 3.5 million mark this weekend.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)

SBS Star

'The Assassin(s)' Dominates Korean Box Office for 60 Days Despite Fierce Controversy

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