Global K-animation The King of Kings (directed by Jang Sung-ho, produced by Mofax Studio, distributed by Distation, co-distributed by CITES) is continuing the box office success that began in North America, recording the top position during the opening week Sunday in Korea. It reveals even more interesting records.
#100 million copies: annual sales of the original work
The global hit K-animation The King of Kings, which depicts a journey into one of the greatest stories 2,000 years ago with the excellent British author Charles Dickens and his youngest son Walter, started from the Bible, the world's best-selling book. The Bible sells over 100 million copies annually and is regarded as the most widely read book in human history. It has maintained its status as a bestseller with overwhelming sales for centuries, making it the only book excluded from official counting due to its record-breaking status. The King of Kings was completed through a thorough validation process by multiple pastoral advisory boards and a biblical verification task force consisting of history and theology experts, based on this great original work over three years of screenplay writing. As a result, it was born into a story that resonates not just as a simple reproduction but also with today’s audience.
#1: North America's all-time Korean film box office ranking + domestic box office ranking during the opening weekend
The King of Kings surpassed the North American cumulative revenue of Parasite just 17 days after its release, taking the top spot among all-time North American box office earners for purely Korean-produced films. It also recorded the top position in the domestic box office on opening week Sunday, proving its overwhelming box office potential both domestically and internationally. This achievement, earned through an unprecedented distribution strategy of a North American release followed by a domestic release, is noted as a turning point showing that K-content can expand the market in different ways and presents a new distribution strategy.
#2: North American box office opening week ranking + all-time Asian animation box office ranking in North America
The King of Kings secured the second position at the North American box office in its opening week, competing with formidable Hollywood blockbusters. It then recorded a cumulative revenue of $60.3 million in North America, breaking the previous highest box office record for a Korean film, and set a new milestone as having the second highest box office revenue for Asian animation in North America, following Pokemon: The First Movie's $85.74 million. The remarkable success of Korean original animation in North America, the largest theater market in the world, is evidence that K-content has the competitiveness to thrive in global markets.
#40 years: The miraculous partnership period created by the director and cinematographer's friendship
Director Jang Sung-ho, who directed and produced The King of Kings, and cinematographer Kim Woo-hyung, who handled photography and co-production, are high school seniors with over 40 years of friendship. The two used their accumulated experience and skills in live-action films to develop a virtual production system and cameras, achieving quality and detailed dynamic camera movements comparable to live-action films. Furthermore, it is reported that Kim Woo-hyung dedicated most of his career over the years to contribute to this project. Director Jang noted, "Without cinematographer Kim Woo-hyung, this project would not have succeeded," expressing his gratitude.
#North America's pre-release monitoring score of 95 & Rotten Tomatoes popcorn score of 98%
The King of Kings recorded a monitoring score of 95 in its pre-screening for preparation for the North American release, raising expectations early on. After the release, it earned a Rotten Tomatoes popcorn score of 98% and a CinemaScore of A+, receiving overwhelming support from local audiences. This is analyzed as the result of the warm sentiment and familiar story presented in a new way, along with high-quality dubbing and impressive technology. This positive response has continued domestically, leading to the top position in the box office on opening week Sunday and recording the highest seat occupancy rate among simultaneous releases over the opening weekend, creating a box office sensation this summer.
The King of Kings, which has revealed historic records in numbers, is currently being screened enthusiastically across the country.
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