Hyped as one of Korea’s most anticipated summer tentpoles, fantasy action film Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is underperforming at the box office—and may be headed straight for Netflix in a bid to cut losses.
The film, which cost over 30 billion KRW (approx. 21.6 million USD) to produce, had been positioned as a blockbuster contender. But ten days into its release, it has drawn just 890,000 viewers—a far cry from the estimated 6 million admissions needed to break even.
Starring Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Min Ho, Chae Soo Bin, Shin Seung Ho, Nana, and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, the film brings to life a world where fiction becomes reality. But despite the star-studded cast and built-in fanbase, viewers have been unimpressed. Harsh reviews—particularly from fans of the original story—have called out everything from sloppy adaptation to clunky acting, with Jisoo’s performance drawing especially sharp criticism for feeling awkward and underwhelming.
However, My Daughter Is a Zombie (crossed 1 million viewers in just 4 days) are proving there’s still a hunger for local movies.
Insiders say it’s part of a growing trend: struggling theatrical releases finding second lives on OTT platforms like Netflix. While streaming services benefit from snapping up these titles to boost content libraries, moviegoers are growing more reluctant to head to theaters, knowing they’ll be able to catch most films at home within a couple of months.
The result? A vicious cycle that’s making it harder than ever for Korean cinema to thrive in theaters.
In fact, attendance at Korean cinemas has dropped dramatically. According to the Korean Film Council’s mid-year report, just 42.5 million moviegoers visited theaters in the first half of 2025—a 32.5% drop compared to the same period last year. Box office revenue was also down by 33.2%, totaling 407.9 billion KRW (approx. $298 million).
Last year saw two major hits—Exhuma (11.91 million admissions) and The Roundup: Punishment (11.5 million)—giving the industry a much-needed boost. But in 2025, the top-performing Korean film so far, YADANG: The Snitch, has only drawn 3.38 million viewers and earned 32 billion KRW.
And with streaming subscription fees roughly equal to a single movie ticket, it’s no wonder Korean audiences are choosing to stay in. Unless the tide turns soon, Netflix may not just dominate Korean drama—it could soon take over its films, too.
>> Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Dominates Box Office, Reviews Mixed
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