After Breaking Down, Song Joong-ki Receives More Emotional News

A Korean film that flopped in theaters, leaving its lead actor in tears, is now experiencing a triumphant resurgence on Netflix.

The film is none other than Bogotá: City of the Last Chance, starring Song Joong-ki. Four weeks after its theatrical release, the film was made available on Netflix on February 4, where it quickly gained traction, making up for its disappointing box office performance. According to streaming analytics site FlixPatrol, Bogotá claimed the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s Top 10 Films in Korea on February 5 and has held the position for six consecutive days as of February 10.

Released on December 31, Bogotá was an ambitious production with a budget of 12.5 billion KRW ($12.5 million), much of which went into on-location filming in Colombia. However, the film struggled in theaters, drawing only 420,000 viewers—just 15% of the 3 million needed to break even. This underwhelming performance was particularly unexpected, given Song Joong-ki’s star power and the film’s production value.

Song Joong-ki couldn’t hide his emotions during a GV (Guest Visit) event on January 12 at Megabox Seongsu, where he teared up while addressing the film’s struggles. “The current state of Korean cinema is tough. Honestly, just having a film screened in theaters is something to be thankful for,” he said. “We worked so hard to promote this movie, and I wanted it to be received well.” Fellow actor Lee Sung-min, who also attended the event, shared his own frustrations: “I felt sad seeing empty parking lots at the theater. For actors, seeing theaters with no audiences is painful, especially when it happens during your movie’s release.”

However, Bogotá has seen a dramatic turnaround since its Netflix release. Within a day, it topped Netflix’s global film rankings on February 5. While it briefly dropped to second place after the release of Kinda Pregnant starring Amy Schumer, it remains in the global Top 5, attracting international attention.

Set in the aftermath of the 1997 IMF crisis, Bogotá follows Guk-hee (Song Joong-ki), a boy forced to move to Colombia after his father’s business collapses. As he grows up, Guk-hee becomes entangled with powerful figures within Bogotá’s Korean community, including Soo-young (Lee Hee-jun) and smuggling kingpin Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae-hyo).

The film highlights Song Joong-ki’s impressive transformation, a performance that many believe was tailored specifically for him from the film’s conception. The actor thoroughly prepared for the role, traveling to Bogotá with the production team to immerse himself in the local environment and develop his character.

The film’s success on Netflix reinforces Song Joong-ki’s global appeal. He has proven to be a box office draw with hits like A Werewolf Boy, and his diverse roles in Hopeless and Ro Ki-wan have demonstrated his versatile acting range. His portrayal of Guk-hee in Bogotá—capturing the character’s growth from a teenager to an adult—further cements his reputation as a top-tier actor.

The film’s unexpected turnaround highlights the changing landscape of the Korean film industry, where OTT platforms are becoming a crucial avenue for success. Unlike theaters, which have struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic, streaming services are helping Korean content maintain its competitive edge on a global scale. The case of Bogotá illustrates how a film’s success can no longer be measured solely by its theatrical performance.

As of February 10, Netflix’s Top 10 Films in Korea are as follows:

Bogotá: City of the Last Chance

Veteran (starring Yoo Ah-in and Hwang Jung-min)

Amazon Bullseye

Knights of the Zodiac

Kinda Pregnant (starring Amy Schumer)

Cabriolet

Hitman

Lim Young-woong: I'm Hero – The Stadium

Back in Action

Ransomed (starring Ju Ji-hoon)