‘Colony’ Overtakes ‘The King's Warden’ to Set Biggest Opening of 2026 With Star-Studded Cast

Director Yeon Sang Ho’s latest film, 'Colony,' has shaken up the Korean box office after recording the biggest opening-day score of the year.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network on May 22, 'Colony' drew 199,768 moviegoers on its opening day, May 21, instantly taking the No. 1 spot at the box office. Considering that the film opened on a Thursday during an off-peak season, the figure is considered highly unusual. Its cumulative audience count currently stands at 218,304.

The opening score is now the highest among all films released in 2026. It surpassed the opening-day performances of this year’s top-grossing titles, including 'The King's Warden' (117,783) and 'Salmokji: Whispering Water' (89,911).

It also outperformed the previous record-holder, 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' by more than 48,000 viewers. The gap between 'Colony' and the day’s second-place film, 'Michael,' was approximately 170,000 moviegoers in a single day.

A Fresh Take on Zombies With a Unique Premise

'Colony' is set inside a skyscraper in downtown Seoul, where survivors become trapped after a mysterious mass infection outbreak seals off the building. The survivors must battle infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways.

The film marks Yeon Sang Ho’s third zombie feature following 'Train to Busan' and 'Peninsula.' This time, however, the director introduces a different kind of zombie.

In the movie, the infected function as a collective intelligence capable of learning and evolving, gradually displaying more advanced swarm behavior. The concept distinguishes Colony from traditional zombie films while delivering intense horror-thriller suspense. The film’s latter half especially features several visually striking and original sequences that have become major talking points among viewers.

Star-Studded Cast Generated Buzz Even Before Release

The film had already attracted major attention thanks to its high-profile cast. Leading the lineup is Jun Ji Hyun, who returned to the big screen for the first time in 11 years since Assassination. She stars alongside Koo Kyo Hwan, Ji Chang Wook, Shin Hyun Been, Kim Shin Rok, and Go Soo.

Jun Ji Hyun and Koo Kyo Hwan reunite roughly four years after appearing together in 'Kingdom: Ashin of the North.'

Speaking about her decision to join the project, Jun Ji Hyun said, “Everyone loves director Yeon’s work, and I’m one of them. Working with a director who has such a distinct style and clear message gives actors a sense of freedom.”

Jun Ji Hyun plays Kwon Se Jung, a biotechnology professor and the leader of the survivor group. Koo Kyo Hwan takes on the role of Seo Young Chul, a genius biologist responsible for triggering the outbreak and serving as the film’s villain.

Ji Chang Wook portrays building security employee Choi Hyun Seok, while Kim Shin Rok plays his older sister Choi Hyun Hee, an employee at an IT company. Go Soo appears as Han Gyu Sung, Se Jung’s ex-husband and the husband of biotechnology professor Seol Hee, played by Shin Hyun Been.

Cannes Buzz and Government Discounts Fuel Momentum

Before its domestic release, 'Colony' was officially invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, further boosting anticipation surrounding the film. Following the screening, audiences at the Lumière Grand Theatre reportedly gave the movie a seven-minute standing ovation.

The New York Asian Film Festival also selected Colony as its 25th anniversary opening film. In North America, the movie will be distributed by Well Go USA and is scheduled to open locally on August 28.

Yeon Sang Ho, who was invited to Cannes for the fourth time, said, “It’s an honor to present Colony at the Cannes Film Festival, a place I’ve always dreamed of. The passionate response will remain a lasting memory throughout my filmmaking career.”

The director first visited Cannes in 2012 with the animated film 'The King of Pigs.' He later returned with 'Train to Busan' and 'Peninsula.'

Industry insiders believe the positive word-of-mouth generated at Cannes is already contributing to the film’s strong domestic opening. Government-issued movie discount coupons are also believed to have helped boost initial ticket sales.

Audiences have continued to praise the movie online, with reactions such as, “Now I understand why it was invited to Cannes,” “Yeon Sang Ho’s tense spatial direction and the actors’ eye acting were incredibly powerful,” “The evolving infected were refreshing,” and “A truly new kind of zombie film.”

The film’s momentum is expected to continue. As of 8 AM on May 22, advance ticket reservations had already surpassed 260,000 viewers. With the upcoming Buddha’s Birthday holiday weekend approaching, industry observers expect the box office surge to continue through the extended holiday period.

'Colony' reportedly has a break-even point estimated at around 3 to 4 million admissions based on a production budget of approximately 20 billion KRW (13.2 million USD). However, insiders say the figure has been significantly lowered thanks to pre-sales in 120 overseas markets.

Attention is now turning to whether 'Colony' can become Yeon Sang Ho’s next 10-million-viewer blockbuster. The film is also available in IMAX and ScreenX formats.