As of 10:00 a.m. on the 23rd, the 4DX screening of “Avengers: Endgame Encore” at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall had sold 405 out of 432 seats across its three scheduled showings for the day, recording a seat occupancy rate of 93.8%. ScreenX also sold 1,013 of the 1,260 seats available across the eight showings scheduled for that day, reaching a seat occupancy rate of 80.4%. Seats in special theaters at major CGV locations—including Wangsimni, Yeongdeungpo Times Square, and Yeouido—are also selling out quickly. This demonstrates the high demand for unique cinematic experiences even during the Chuseok holiday season.
The strong performance of special theaters aligns with the growing trend of audiences seeking experiences unique to the cinema. As watching movies at home has become the norm, the “unique theater experience”—featuring large screens, immersive sound, and moving seats—has become even more important. A similar trend is emerging in overseas markets as well. The number of ScreenX and 4DX theaters, which stood at 423 in 2016, has nearly tripled over the past decade to approximately 1,260 this year. “ScreenX,” which extends the front screen to the left and right walls, has increased more than sixfold from 77 to 480, while 4DX—which features motion chairs that move in sync with the film and provides environmental effects such as wind, water, and scent—has more than doubled from 346 to 780. Currently, both formats are in operation in 75 countries worldwide.
CJ Podiflex, a subsidiary of CJ CGV, is also strengthening its production collaborations with global studios by leveraging “K-Theater” formats such as 4DX and ScreenX. Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: A Brand-New Day” was the first film from a major Hollywood studio to be produced using the “Shot for ScreenX” method. From the planning stage onward, the production team collaborated with the director and crew to design and shoot scenes optimized for ScreenX.
The film’s box office performance was also remarkable. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” grossed $104 million (approximately 143.9 billion won) at the global ScreenX and 4DX box office within 33 days of its release, becoming the highest-grossing film ever in those formats. Screened more than 115,000 times on approximately 1,200 screens worldwide, it attracted over 6.7 million viewers and recorded an average seat occupancy rate of 40%.
A CJ Podiplex representative stated, “Through collaboration with global theater operators and studios, we will strengthen the competitiveness of our content and deliver a differentiated theater experience to a wider global audience.”
