Q1 2026 total admissions and revenue hit post-COVID highs, driven by a historic domestic blockbuster

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has released its Q1 2026 box office report, revealing that total theater revenue reached KRW 318 billion (approx. USD 231 million) and total admissions reached 31.9 million — the highest first-quarter figures recorded since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The results represent a 58.7% increase in revenue (up KRW 117.7 billion) and a 53.2% increase in admissions (up 11.08 million) compared to the same period in 2025, powered almost entirely by the extraordinary performance of The King's Warden.

Domestic Films Claim 73.4% Revenue Share on Strength of The King's Warden

Korean films accounted for 73.4% of total Q1 revenue, generating KRW 233.3 billion (approx. USD 169 million) in box office and drawing 24.01 million admissions — more than double the year-on-year figures, with revenue up 117.5% (KRW 126.1 billion) and admissions up 115.1% (12.85 million). When measured against the pre-pandemic Q1 average for 2017–2019, domestic film revenue has recovered to 94.5% of its historical baseline, with admissions at 79.7%.

The quarter's results were anchored by two domestic titles: The King's Warden, which crossed the 10-million-admissions threshold to become a cheonman (ten-million) film, and mid-budget romantic drama Once We Were Us, which sustained a lengthy theatrical run throughout the quarter.

All-Time Box Office Record: The King's Warden Surpasses Extreme Job

The King's Warden topped the Q1 2026 rankings with KRW 151.8 billion (approx. USD 110 million) in revenue and 15.73 million admissions, becoming the highest-grossing film in Korean box office history by revenue — surpassing the long-standing record held by Extreme Job (2019). The film single-handedly carried the broader theatrical market through the quarter.

Second place went to Avatar: Fire and Ash, which posted KRW 26.5 billion (approx. USD 19 million) in revenue and 2.18 million admissions. Notably, premium-format screenings accounted for 49.9% of the film's total revenue (KRW 13.2 billion), ranking it first in special-format box office for the quarter.

Showbox Leads Distributors with 55.4% Revenue Share

On the distribution side, Showbox claimed the top position with KRW 176.3 billion (approx. USD 128 million) in revenue and a 55.4% market share, having distributed three titles including The King's Warden and Once We Were Us. Walt Disney Company Korea finished second with KRW 43.1 billion (approx. USD 31 million) and a 13.6% share across five titles, including Avatar: Fire and Ash, Zootopia 2, and Hoppers.¹

Foreign Films Post Third Consecutive Quarter of Year-on-Year Decline

Foreign film performance continued a downward trend, declining for the third consecutive year in Q1. While Avatar: Fire and Ash and Project Hail Mary performed well in premium-format venues, combined results fell short of the 2025 Q1 comparison period, which had featured Mickey 17 and Captain America: Brave New World. Foreign film revenue for Q1 2026 stood at KRW 84.7 billion (approx. USD 61 million) — down 9.0% (KRW 8.4 billion) — while admissions reached 7.89 million, a decrease of 18.3% (1.77 million).

Live-Action 5 Centimeters Per Second Leads Independent and Art Film Rankings

In the independent and art film segment, the live-action adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's animated film 5 Centimeters Per Second — produced in Japan — led Q1 with KRW 891.09 million in revenue and 93,268 admissions. Two Korean independent titles also cracked the segment's top ten: The Revival recorded 52,824 admissions, while Mad Dance Office drew 47,736.