Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee’s ‘The Intern’ dethrones 10 million-ticket hit ‘The Odyssey’ with 61,000 opening-day admissions

Cross-generational ensemble shakes up the box office

A cross-generational ensemble led by Choi Min-sik, a towering figure in South Korean cinema, and rising star Han So-hee has upended the box office. The new film ‘The Intern’ drew more than 60,000 moviegoers on its opening day, surpassing Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster ‘The Odyssey’, which had held the top spot for 42 straight days, and claiming the box office crown.

According to data from the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system released on the 17th, ‘The Intern’ drew more than 61,000 moviegoers on its opening day, accounting for 31.5% of ticket revenue and taking a commanding first place. The result is considered significant because it came during the traditionally slow season for theaters.

The film follows Ki-ho (Choi Min-sik), a veteran who retires after 30 years with one company and joins the fashion startup of Sun-woo (Han So-hee), a young CEO in her third year, as an entry-level employee. It completely reinterprets the globally beloved 2015 Hollywood classic of the same name through a distinctly Korean lens. Director Kim Do-young, who demonstrated her filmmaking ability with the 2025 film ‘What If We’, further bolstered the movie’s execution.

The CGV Egg Score, a measure of satisfaction among moviegoers who have actually seen the film, is also holding at an encouraging 95%. The prevailing analysis is that the two leads’ closely matched performances and the warm story spanning generations have struck a deep chord with audiences.

Meanwhile, ‘The Odyssey’, which had been writing a new chapter in long-running box office success, fell to second place after drawing more than 41,000 moviegoers (28.8%) the same day. Although its record run of 42 consecutive days atop the daily box office has ended, the film has surpassed 10.92 million cumulative admissions and is on the verge of reaching 11 million.

Advance-booking figures point to a fierce three-way race ahead. As of 9 a.m. on the 17th, ‘The Odyssey’ was seeking a rebound with a 22.4% share, while ‘Assassin(s),’ the upcoming film starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho and due out on the 23rd, was close behind at 17.7%. ‘The Intern’ followed at 13.0%, setting up a weekend battle for the box office lead.

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