Will 'The King of Kings', Sensation in the US, Make History in Korea Too?

As the animated film 'The King of Kings' sets new box office records in North America, sparking a sensation, all eyes are on whether it will make history in Korea as well.

Set to premiere on the 16th, 'The King of Kings' boasts a reservation rate of 16.9% (as of 9:30 AM on July 15th), ranking it second in overall reservation rates. Considering that the first place is taken by 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet', which opens next week, 'The King of Kings' is currently the top choice among this week's new releases.

With 49,000 tickets already sold, the film's reservation numbers are impressive, especially for an animated film with a religious theme. Its success follows its North American debut in April, where it grossed over $60 million, surpassing 'Parasite's record for Korean film earnings in North America. The buzz from overseas has clearly influenced expectations.

'The King of Kings' takes viewers on a journey 2,000 years back in time with Charles Dickens, a renowned British author, and his youngest son Walter, to explore the greatest story ever told. The film draws inspiration from Dickens's 'The Life of Our Lord'.

Labeling it merely as a religious film doesn't do justice to its expansive nature. Director Jang Sung-ho emphasizes that 'The King of Kings' is not only a story about Jesus but also encompasses themes of love and family. The craftsmanship is touted as elevating Korean animation to a new level.

There's growing interest in whether 'The King of Kings' can change the course of Korean animation's box office history. The current top-grossing animated film is 'Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild', which attracted 2.22 million viewers in 2011. With cinema attendance dwindling, and few films breaking the one million mark this year, hopes are high that 'The King of Kings' will replicate its US success in the domestic market.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)