According to the Korea Film Council's integrated computer network on the 19th, "Exit 8" recorded a total audience of 440,015.
This marks the highest box office success for a Japanese live-action film released in Korea in 2025. It also surpassed the 440,000 viewers of "Ju-on 2" (2003), a representative Japanese horror film, and the 1,000 viewers of "Ju-on: The End" (2009).
This is higher than the 411,075 viewers of "The Conjuring" (2014), a masterpiece of the horror genre released this year.
This number exceeds the cumulative audience of 429,933 for "The Last Rite" (2025).
"Exit 8" is based on the game of the same name, which has been downloaded over 1.9 million times, and tells the story of a man trapped in an underground tunnel with an infinite loop.
The film tells the story of a man who gets lost searching for Exit 8, discovers a recurring abnormal phenomenon within the corridor, and is able to escape. Director Kawamura Formerki said, "This film is a nightmarish journey into a labyrinth of distorted space-time.
"Through visual and audio experiences, the audience is trapped in a dreamlike illusion, as if they had entered an Escher optical illusion," he said.
Furthermore, through abnormal phenomena, he portrays symbols of the sins and anxieties hidden by the protagonist or society as a whole, and attempts to project reality through trivial things.
"Will we ignore the signs of abnormal phenomena and be trapped in a world with no way out? Or will we face them head-on and move towards the light? This is the choice we face every day," he explained.
True to his words, "Exit 8" conveys the fear and anxiety of being trapped forever in an ordinary space like an underground passage, and has been well-received.
In particular, the film captivates audiences with the fun and thrill of following the "lost man" (Ninomiya Kazunari) as he tries to escape the underground tunnel, uncovering each and every abnormal phenomenon.
The passionate performances of Ninomiya Kazunari, who played the "lost man," and Kawachi Yamato, who played the "walking man" with an eerie aura, not only enhanced the sense of immersion, but also allowed viewers to experience "Exit 8" together.
As a result, "Exit 8" has been steadily attracting audiences in the five weeks since its release, even amidst the onslaught of new releases. In fact, some audience members have commented, "It's amazing. I watched it without knowing the game, but the director's direction was amazing."
"It was wonderful" (CGV, zun***), "A thriller with skillful use of space" (CGV, sleep***),
"Amazing direction that goes beyond the limits of a live-action script" (CGV, Happiness
***), "Second viewing. You can see and feel more when you watch this movie a second time" (CGV, Life is ***).
With Exit 8 now showing promise as a long-term hit, attention is focused on how long its success will continue.
By minmin 2025/11/20 13:37 KST
