[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The popular Japanese anime film "Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" (Chiikawa) topped the box office on its opening day.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 1st, “ChiiKawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” drew 122,291 viewers on the 30th of last month, taking the No. 1 spot at the box office. The cumulative audience count on its opening day reached 153,016. “Chiikawa,” which had recorded high advance ticket sales even before its release, continued the pre-release buzz by taking the lead in actual audience turnout.
“Chiikawa” is an animated film depicting a mysterious expedition in which Chiikawa and her friends, lured by the sweet temptation of 100 times their usual pay, set off for an unknown island to uncover the secrets hidden there. It is based on the popular manga “Chiikawa (Moon Bat),” serialized on X (formerly Twitter) in 2020 by renowned Japanese illustrator Nagano.
“Assassin(s)” took second place with 71,938 viewers. Its cumulative audience count stands at 1,766,942, putting it on the verge of reaching 1.8 million viewers. After topping the box office during the Chuseok holiday, the film has maintained its position in the top ranks even following the release of new titles, demonstrating its potential for a long-term run.
“Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub” took third place with 57,854 viewers. Its cumulative audience stands at 1,015,907, having surpassed the 1 million mark just eight days after its release. Despite the restriction of its “No Minors Allowed” rating, the film has continued its box office momentum by steadily attracting audiences since the Chuseok holiday.
“The Resurrected Man: The Red,” starring actor Koo Kyo-hwan and released on the same day, debuted in 4th place overall, drawing 42,871 viewers. Its cumulative audience stands at 51,674.
“Chiikawa” also took the lead in advance ticket sales. As of 8:11 a.m. on the 1st, “Chiikawa” recorded a 39.1% advance ticket sales rate and 211,646 tickets sold, ranking first overall. “The Assassin(s)” came in second with 13.8% (74,806 tickets), and “Odyssey” in third place at 10.5% (56,760 tickets). “Tazza 4” followed with 9.5% (51,511 tickets), and “The Resurrected Man: The Red” with 7.8% (42,126 tickets).
The Japanese anime “ChiiKawa” took the lead in both box office receipts and advance ticket sales on its opening day, emerging as a new wild card in the box office landscape in early October. With the National Foundation Day holiday approaching, all eyes are on whether the current advance ticket sales rankings will translate into actual audience turnout.