The Korean Blockbuster That Took Box Office No. 1 on Its Opening Day

2025-01-23 10:33

Draws over 100,000 viewers, surpassing the first installment’s debut numbers.

On its opening day, Hitman 2 claimed the top spot at the box office, dethroning the long-reigning Harbin.

A still cut from the movie Hitman 2 / Courtesy of By4M Studio

According to the Korean Film Council’s data on January 23, Hitman 2 attracted 100,591 viewers on its first day, with a total cumulative audience of 103,959. This surpasses the opening day numbers of its 2020 predecessor, which drew 81,509 viewers.

The action-comedy film continues to gain momentum, boasting a real-time reservation rate of 18.1% as of the morning of January 23, ranking second only to Dark Nuns, an upcoming release starring Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been.

Directed by Choi Won-sub, Hitman 2 follows Jun (Kwon Sang-woo), a struggling webtoon artist, who becomes entangled in chaos when a real-life terror attack mimics his latest comic. The film features a dynamic ensemble cast, including Kwon Sang-woo, Jung Joon-ho, Lee Yi-kyung, and Hwang Woo-seul-hye.

Hitman 2 Main Trailer. / Courtesy of BY4M STUDIO

Building on the success of its predecessor, Hitman, which garnered 2.4 million viewers in 2020, the sequel promises upgraded action, humor, and visuals. Director Choi expressed his confidence, saying, “Every aspect has been enhanced, from the action sequences to the scale of animation and visuals.”

Actor Kwon Sang-woo even went viral during a promotional event, where he humorously knelt on stage and passionately urged audiences to spread the word, saying, “I really want to beat Dark Nuns and Secret: Untold Melodies.”

Actors Jung Joon-ho (from left), Hwang Woo-seul-hye, director Choi Won-sub, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, and Kim Sung-oh pose during the production briefing for the movie *Hitman 2*, held at CGV Yongsan in Seoul on December 27. *Hitman 2* is a comedic action film about 'Jun' (played by Kwon Sang-woo), a once-successful webtoon writer who finds himself framed for a terrorist attack inspired by his latest comic. / News1 — Actors Jung Joon-ho (from left), Hwang Woo-seul-hye, director Choi Won-sub, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, and Kim Sung-oh pose during the production briefing for the movie *Hitman 2*, held at CGV Yongsan in Seoul on December 27. *Hitman 2* is a comedic action film about "Jun" (played by Kwon Sang-woo), a once-successful webtoon writer who finds himself framed for a terrorist attack inspired by his latest comic. / News1

The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive, with a Naver rating of 8.42/10. Viewers praised the film’s humor and performances, calling it “funnier than the first,” “a perfect family movie,” and “a refreshing escape from reality.”

To celebrate the success, the cast and crew will embark on a nationwide theater tour, meeting fans across Korea during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Real-time Reservation Rankings (as of Jan. 23, 8:40 AM):

1) Dark Nuns (39.8%)

2) Hitman 2 (18.1%)

3) Secret: Untold Melodies (10.2%)

4) IU Concert: The Winning (6.8%)

5) Harbin (4.1%)

6) Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2.4%)

7) About Family (1.8%)

8) THUNDERSTRUCK COP (1.7%)

9) The Substance (1.4%)

10) Broken (Nocturnal) (1.4%)