Chiikawa the Movie Tops South Korean Box Office, Narrowly Beats Local Thriller The Assassin(s)
Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island topped South Korea’s box office during the weekend of Oct. 9–11, 2026.
In Brief
- •Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island topped South Korea’s box office during the weekend of Oct. 9–11, 2026.
- •The Japanese animated fantasy narrowly outperformed the local political thriller The Assassin(s) in admissions.
- •KOBIS, the Korean Film Council’s tracking service, confirmed the admissions contest.
- •The margin between the two films was described as razor‑thin.
- •Chiikawa’s success highlights the growing appeal of foreign anime in the Korean market.
Why It Matters
The result underscores the competitive nature of South Korea’s film market, where a foreign animated feature can challenge a domestic political thriller for the top spot. It signals potential for increased distribution of Japanese anime in Korea and may influence future marketing strategies for both local and international studios.
Key Details
- Weekend
- Oct. 9–11 2026
- Film
- Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island
- Competition
- The Assassin(s)
- Result
- Chiikawa topped box office
- Margin
- razor‑thin
Context & Background
KOBIS, the Korean Film Council’s box‑office tracking service, publishes weekly admissions data for domestic and foreign releases.
Original Reporting & Sources
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