[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] The movie “The Odyssey,” which has surpassed 12 million viewers, has now claimed the top spot as the highest-grossing foreign film of all time in Korea based on box office revenue. Although it is not the foreign film with the highest number of viewers in history, it has set a new record as the foreign film that has generated the most ticket sales in Korea, thanks to its success in special screening theaters and a long-running theatrical run.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 11th, “The Odyssey” had recorded a cumulative audience of 12,153,893 and cumulative box office revenue of 138.3 billion won as of the 10th. This figure surpasses the approximately 137.9 billion won earned by “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which was released in 2022, breaking the record for highest-grossing foreign film in South Korea for the first time in about four years.
As a result, “Odyssey” has surpassed all previous box office hits—including “Avatar” (approximately 125.2 billion won), “Avengers: Endgame” (approximately 122.4 billion won), and “Frozen 2” (approximately 115 billion won)—to claim the top spot among foreign films in terms of box office revenue.
It is particularly noteworthy that the film claimed the all-time top spot based on box office revenue rather than audience numbers. “Odyssey” opened on August 5 and, after more than two months in theaters, surpassed 12 million viewers. While it did not match “Avatar”—which holds the record for the highest number of viewers for a foreign film—its box office revenue surpassed that of “Avatar.”
This performance is believed to have been influenced by the success of special screenings, including IMAX. From its opening, “The Odyssey” saw viewing demand concentrated on large screens and special screening formats. The success of these special screenings—which charge higher ticket prices than standard theaters—served as a factor in boosting revenue relative to the number of viewers.
This also illustrates that the criteria for evaluating box office success are changing. Whereas in the past, the number of viewers was the key indicator of a film’s success, the amount each viewer pays has now emerged as a crucial variable in determining revenue performance.
However, *Odyssey*’s record does not necessarily signify a recovery of the overall theater market. It is necessary to distinguish between the revenue effect generated by a preference for special screening formats and higher average ticket prices, and the phenomenon of audiences concentrating on specific blockbusters. *Odyssey*’s all-time high revenue record serves as an example of how the profit-generating model for major blockbusters is changing in the Korean theater industry.