‘Chiikawa the Movie’ Surpasses 2 Million Admissions in 25 Days, Dominates with 36% of Advance Bookings

A Chilling Story Beneath the Cuteness: The Secret to Winning Over Audiences of All Ages

The Japanese animated film ‘Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island’ (hereafter ‘Chiikawa the Movie’) has demonstrated its staying power at the box office, surpassing 2 million admissions on Oct. 24, its 25th day in theaters.

According to distributor Daewon Media, ‘Chiikawa the Movie’ had drawn more than 2 million moviegoers as of the morning of Oct. 24. It is the 10th film released in South Korea this year to reach the 2-million-admission mark. Among animated films, it is the year’s second-biggest success, following ‘Toy Story 5,’ which drew approximately 2.949 million viewers.

Released on Sept. 30, ‘Chiikawa the Movie’ follows Chiikawa and friends as they travel to an unfamiliar island and uncover its mysterious secrets. The film has drawn praise for successfully bringing to the screen the megahit characters created by renowned Japanese artist Nagano.

The film’s nuanced story, which goes beyond its characters’ adorable appearance, is seen as a key factor in its success. The contrast between the lovable characters and the story’s chilling suspense, along with its intricate storytelling, has captivated adult audiences as well. As of the previous day, the film had set a record by holding the No. 1 spot at the box office for 10 consecutive days. It had already proven its commercial and critical appeal in Japan, where it topped the year’s releases after surpassing 18 billion yen in cumulative box-office revenue (approximately 150 billion won).

The box-office momentum is expected to continue for the time being. As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 24, ‘Chiikawa the Movie’ had a real-time advance-booking rate of 36.7%, comfortably ahead of ‘Paradise Lost,’ the new film from director Yeon Sang-ho (6.4%), and ‘The Secret of the College Entrance Exam,’ which is set to open on Oct. 28 (6.1%). With approximately 120,000 people currently waiting to see the film, the industry is watching closely to see where its final box-office total will land.