As "The King’s Warden" barrels past the 10-million mark at home and heats up overseas, U.S. audience reactions are turning heads.
Released under the English title "The King’s Warden", the film opened on March 4 in about 80 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Thanks to strong word of mouth, it expanded to 150 theaters within two weeks.
According to Box Office Mojo on the 20th, "The King’s Warden" grossed $2,396,936 across 121 U.S. theaters (approximately 3.57 billion won). It has already outpaced the North American totals of 12.12: The Day and Extreme Job, and even surpassed Decision to Leave’s $2,179,864 (about 3.25 billion won).
On Rotten Tomatoes, "The King’s Warden" holds a 96% Audience Score. The standout factor? The heartfelt viewer reactions pouring in after screenings.
One North American viewer linked the film to another Korean hit with a punchy one-liner: “The person who killed Danjong is No. 456 from 'Squid Game.' Watch the Korean movie 'The Face Reader.'” The comment nods to Lee Jung-jae―"Squid Game"’s No. 456―who played Grand Prince Suyang in the 2013 film "The Face Reader." Note: in "The King’s Warden", Suyang is only mentioned and does not appear. The commenter clearly came in with strong knowledge and love for Korean cinema.
Most reactions were raves. While U.S. viewers are more familiar with American or British history than Asian history―especially Korean history―this film pulled them deep into the Joseon era and the tragedy of King Danjong.
One viewer wrote, “A long-silenced chapter of Korean history finally speaks. The performances hold unspoken pain, truth, and courage. A powerful, unforgettable film.” Another shared, “It’s an intense, immersive cinematic experience. There’s a reason this movie keeps breaking records every week. The pacing is tight and the cinematography captures the era’s tension perfectly. I was locked into the world of the king and the village head from start to finish. If you want a well-made film with standout acting, this is it.”
Many American moviegoers typically avoid subtitles, but those who watched "The King’s Warden" said the story easily overcame any hesitation.
One said, “This film is powerful and astonishing. Don’t be scared of subtitles. Highly recommend.” Another praised, “Beautiful cinematography, strong storyline, excellent acting. It makes you laugh, feel good, and cry. The subtitles are well-timed―not so fast you miss meaning, and not lingering too long on screen.”
Some viewers even went down a history rabbit hole after the credits rolled, looking up context the movie doesn’t detail. One comment read: “Danjong is the direct grandson of the legendary monarch King Sejong, who created Hangul. His death ended the direct bloodline inherited from Sejong’s eldest son. That’s a major reason Koreans feel deep anger about this history. Danjong’s uncle―Sejo (referred to in the film as Grand Prince Suyang), King Sejong’s second son―suffered from a severe chronic skin condition all his life. Legend says it began exactly where Danjong’s mother, who died a day after giving birth, spit on Sejo in his dream.”
"The King’s Warden" opened in Korea on February 4, drew 10 million admissions in 31 days, and as of today (the 20th, Day 45) has surpassed 14 million admissions―now ranking No. 5 all time at the Korean box office.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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