The fourth installment in the popular Korean franchise, The Roundup: Punishment, has made history by setting a new record for all-time opening day presales in its home market. The movie, starring and executive produced by Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee), garnered an impressive 834,000 ticket reservations by Wednesday morning, representing 95.5% of total sales. This surpasses the franchise’s previous best presales of 640,000 for The Roundup: No Way Out in 2023, which went on to gross $76.4 million in the market. It also exceeds the presales of Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days in 2018, with 646,000 reservations, the former record holder that also featured Lee.
On its opening day, The Roundup: Punishment was already making waves, earning $341,000 on just 17 screens during previews. This strong showing bodes well for the film’s overall box office performance and is expected to provide a significant boost to the Korean film industry, which saw record numbers in March, largely due to the success of the horror film Exhuma.
Directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, The Roundup: Punishment made its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. The story follows Lee’s Detective Ma Seok-do, who joins the Cyber Investigation Team to take down a ruthless kingpin and a cryptocurrency entrepreneur using online casinos as a front for their illicit activities. The film has been praised for its thrilling plot, stylish presentation, and the entertainment value it offers to its audience. Reviewer Stephanie Bunbury noted that the movie delivers exactly what viewers expect – thrills, blood spills, and entertainment – all packaged in a well-crafted, easy-to-follow storyline.
The success of The Roundup: Punishment not only solidifies its place within the franchise but also highlights the continued growth and innovation in the Korean film industry. With its record-breaking presales and strong opening day performance, the movie is sure to leave a lasting impact on the box office and further establish Korean cinema as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage. As the industry continues to evolve and produce high-quality content, audiences can look forward to more groundbreaking films like The Roundup: Punishment in the future.
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