[Weekend Theater Scene] Jun Ji-hyun and Yeon Sang-ho’s “Gun-gage” Surpasses 200,000 on Release Day…Top Box Office Hit of the Year

“Gun-gage,” which sets a new best opening record of the year, reshapes the theater landscape

The overwhelming synergy between director “Yeon Sang-ho” and actress “Jun Ji-hyun” kicks off the box-office surge

The zombie film “Gun-gage,” which opens a new chapter for Korean-style zombie stories, has flexed its overwhelming box-office pull since the first day of release, seizing the theater scene completely.

Riding the big attention generated even before release from the pairing of director “Yeon Sang-ho” and actor “Jun Ji-hyun,” the zombie film “Gun-gage” drew nearly 200,000 viewers on its first day and set this year’s top opening record across theater releases.

According to an official announcement from the Korea Integrated Ticketing & Computer Network on April 22, “Gun-gage” drew about 199,000 viewers on April 21, its release day, and claimed the No. 1 spot on the daily box office with a 74.6% share of ticket sales. The figure leaves far behind the previous No. 1’s opening record of about 150,000 viewers for “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” and it represents the most overwhelming opening performance among all domestic and international films released this year.

Set against a closed building where an unexplained infection outbreak occurs, “Gun-gage” meticulously depicts the biotech professor Se-Jeong (played by “Jun Ji-hyun”) and the grim fight of the survivors. As a newly presented Korean-style zombie film from director “Yeon Sang-ho,” who delivered consecutive successes with “Train to Busan” and “Peninsula,” it proves both its artistic merit and broad appeal at the same time.

CGV Egg Index, an objective indicator of actual audience evaluation, stands at 87%. Most viewers have sent high praise for the distinctive world-building idea of evolving zombies and for the overpowering acting performances of the lead cast, including “Jun Ji-hyun.” Still, some audience members have been actively trading different interpretations and critiques about certain ways the story unfolds.

“Michael,” pushed down to No. 2, shifts the advance-ticket landscape

With the biopic film “Michael,” the King of Pop’s story, dropping to No. 2, the weekend theater circuit is expected to solidify the dominance of “Gun-gage.”

Meanwhile, “Michael” managed to draw only about 29,000 viewers, sliding down one spot to No. 2 on the box office.

“Gun-gage”’s explosive run at the box office is expected to continue without wavering through the upcoming weekend. As of 9 a.m. on April 22, “Gun-gage”’s real-time advance ticket sales stand at 49.3%, approaching half of all advance ticket sales, following an impressive haul of about 263,000 advance-purchase viewers.

Right after that, “Michael” is holding steady with advance ticket sales of 12.9% (about 69,000 viewers). And the comedy film “Wild Thing,” starring “Kang Dong-won,” which is set to open next month, has secured third place with advance ticket sales of 6.7% (about 35,000 viewers), readying itself to join the competition for the box office going forward.