[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] The Japanese animated film “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” (Chiikawa) continues its unstoppable box office run, remaining unshaken despite a barrage of new releases. With cumulative attendance set to surpass 2 million, the film is maintaining its top spot in real-time ticket sales rankings, fueling its long-term box office success.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network on the 23rd, “Chiikawa” drew 23,254 viewers on the 22nd alone, securing the No. 1 spot at the box office. Its cumulative attendance stands at 1,927,845, leaving it just 72,155 short of the 2 million mark.
“Chiikawa,” which opened on the 30th of last month, continues to hold the top spot, outpacing new releases even as it enters its fourth week in theaters. On that day, “Paradise Lost” took second place at the box office, followed by “The Assassin(s)” in third, “Clayface” in fourth, and “Verity” in fifth. “Chiikawa” continues to show strong performance even as it competes against both established hits and newly released films.
Ticket pre-sales remain strong as well. As of 8:50 a.m. on the 23rd, “Chiikawa” had 92,085 pre-booked tickets, ranking first overall. “Paradise Lost” and “The Final Interview” followed in second and third place, respectively. Given that it has maintained the top spot in real-time ticket sales rankings even as it approaches its one-month anniversary since release, expectations are high for further audience growth.
The reason “Chiikawa”’s box office success is drawing attention is that it is steadily attracting audiences without relying solely on the initial fervor of its fanbase. Generally, films with strong fan bases tend to see a concentration of viewers in the early release period, but “Chiikawa” is sustaining audience demand through special bonuses and limited-edition merchandise released each week following its premiere. In particular, repeat viewings by fans seeking new merchandise are cited as a key factor supporting its long-term box office success.
The strategy of drawing an already established character fanbase into theaters has also proven effective. “Chiikawa,” known in Korea as “Munjakgwi,” has built a fanbase through dolls, keychains, and pop-up stores. This was further bolstered by unique promotional efforts—such as the characters appearing on Mnet’s music show “M Countdown”—that evoked the image of K-pop idols, thereby heightening interest in the film.
A film industry insider analyzed, “The success of ‘Chiikawa’ is a case that demonstrates how not only the film’s own competitiveness but also the power of intellectual property (IP) and fandom can determine box office performance,” adding, “Now, just as important as attracting a large audience is the ability to consistently bring loyal fans back to theaters—this is emerging as a key factor in box office success.”