Ahead of 'Peninsula', another zombie thriller dominates South Korean box office

#Alive tells the story of two people struggling to survive as a mysterious illness spreads throughout Seoul. Photo: Spackman Entertainment Group

South Korea’s film industry is coming back to life... thanks to the undead. The movie #Alive, a zombie-survival thriller about a mysterious illness that plagues Seoul, is a certified hit.

According to the Korean Film Council, #Alive opened box offices at No.1 upon its release on June 24. The film drew in over 200,000 viewers and recorded a gross revenue of US$1.1mil (RM4.7mil).

This marks the highest first-day viewership a film has enjoyed since January, prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 in South Korea.

The thriller also dominated advance ticket sales, reportedly accounting for 62% of all reservations as of June 25.

#Alive stars Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye, who play two survivors isolated in Seoul while the disease spirals out of control.

The movie’s box office success may be due to its dark, yet relatable themes. It tells the story of a city unequipped to deal with a deadly outbreak and people who become disconnected from the rest of the world as they enter lockdown for their own safety.

Another zombie flick is in the horizon. Peninsula, the sequel to Train To Busan, will be released next month in South Korea.

Peninsula, premiering July 16 in Malaysia, will also be the first blockbuster to hit our cinemas as local operators here get ready to restart their businesses on July 1.