'Colony' surpasses 2 million moviegoers in just 5 days, beating out 'The King's Warden' records

The film 'Colony' has officially surpassed 2 million moviegoers.

On May 25, Showbox announced through its official account that 'Colony' had crossed the 2 million admissions mark.

Showbox shared the news in the style of a news broadcast featured in the film, stating, “We’ve just received breaking news. 'Colony' has infected theaters at a faster-than-expected pace and surpassed 2 million moviegoers. We sincerely thank all audience members.”

Previously, 'Colony' exceeded 1 million viewers on the morning of May 24, just four days after its release. It then doubled that figure by the evening of May 25, showing explosive box office momentum.

The pace has drawn attention for being faster than any Korean film released this year, including 'The King's Warden,' the year’s biggest box office hit, and the second-highest-grossing Korean film of all time.

'Colony' follows isolated survivors trapped inside a quarantined building during a mysterious outbreak, as they battle infected humans evolving into unpredictable forms. The film stars Jun Ji Hyun, Koo Kyo Hwan, Ji Chang Wook, and Kim Shin Rok, with Yeon Sang Ho directing.

The movie became an even hotter topic because it marks Jun Ji Hyun’s return to the big screen for the first time in approximately 11 years since 'Assassination.' In the film, she plays Kwon Se Jung, the leader of the survivors who becomes trapped in the Doongwoori Building after arriving for a conference with her ex-husband Han Kyu Sung, played by Go Soo. Her character is described as someone who cannot tolerate injustice and was denied a professor reappointment because of her outspoken personality.

During an earlier production presentation, Jun Ji Hyun shared, “I’m very excited to return to films after such a long time. As a huge fan of director Yeon Sang Ho’s work, I’m happy to greet audiences through one of his projects.”

She continued, “I chose 'Colony' because it was directed by Yeon Sang Ho, and because opportunities to work with such an incredible cast in one project are rare, so I accepted without hesitation.”

Director Yeon Sang Ho also spoke warmly about working with the actress, saying, “The first time I met Jun Ji Hyun was at a café. The moment she walked in, it felt like a movie was playing before my eyes. Just having film actress Jun Ji Hyun sitting in front of me made the entire atmosphere feel cinematic.”

He added, “From 'My Sassy Girl' to 'Assassination,' it’s rare to find an actress with such a wide acting spectrum. Through Colony, she compressed all of that range into one performance. There’s a reason she’s considered a great actress and superstar.”

The director also revealed that he had not initially imagined casting her, saying, “At first, I didn’t even dare consider Jun Ji Hyun. But then I heard intelligence that ‘actress Jun Ji Hyun is interested in director Yeon Sang Ho,’ and that’s how things began.”

When asked whether she felt pressured returning to films after such a long break, Jun Ji Hyun answered honestly, “I was actually confused about whether I felt pressure or not. These days, I don’t think the line between films and dramas is as distinct as it used to be. The filming environment also felt similar, so I acted naturally. But now that the movie is on the big screen and nearing release, I can’t help but feel nervous.”

She also expressed confidence in the project, saying, “'The King's Warden' achieved incredible success, and I believe 'Colony' is a film capable of living up to that.”

True to her words, 'Colony' has continued its strong box office streak after surpassing 2 million admissions shortly after release. Attention is now focused on what new records Yeon Sang Ho’s fresh take on the zombie genre will achieve next.