Full Breakdown
South Korean Box Office: "Salmokji: Whispering Water" Dominates
4/20/2026, 11:55:01 AM
Box Office Performance Overview
During the weekend of April 17–19, 2026, the horror-thriller film “Salmokji: Whispering Water” maintained its position at the top of the South Korean box office, earning $3.3 million from 472,121 admissions. This performance accounted for a significant 50% share of the weekend's total revenue, according to data from the Korean Film Council's KOBIS tracking service. Since its release on April 8, the film has grossed a cumulative total of $10.2 million from 1,461,849 admissions, surpassing its break-even point of 1 million viewers within just ten days.
Film Synopsis and Audience Reception
Directed by Lee Sang-min, “Salmokji: Whispering Water” follows a road-view camera crew that encounters supernatural events at a remote reservoir. The film's gripping narrative and open-ended conclusion have generated strong word-of-mouth among younger audiences, leading to increased curiosity and repeat viewings. Social media discussions around the film's themes and interpretations have further fueled its popularity.
Competitors in the Box Office
In second place, “Project Hail Mary,” starring Ryan Gosling, earned $1.3 million over the weekend, bringing its cumulative gross to $17.5 million from 2,298,106 admissions since its March 18 opening. The historical drama “The King’s Warden” ranked third, adding $712,905 to its total, which now stands at $108.6 million, making it the second most-watched film in Korean history with 16.5 million admissions.
The identity drama “My Name,” which debuted in fourth place, earned $380,515 from 60,953 admissions. This film, directed by Chung Ji-young, explores themes of identity and trauma against the backdrop of the 1948 Jeju April 3 Uprising. Since its release on April 15, it has grossed $611,162.
Additional Box Office Highlights
The animated film “Goat” debuted in fifth place with earnings of $114,641, while the re-release of Miyazaki Hayao's classic “Kiki’s Delivery Service” secured sixth place with $140,117. Other notable entries included the action-thriller “Shelter” in seventh place, the American action-thriller “Normal” in eighth, and a re-release of “The Truman Show” in ninth. The Japanese sports anime “Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle” rounded out the top ten.
The overall market gross for the weekend was $6.6 million, a decrease from the previous week's total of $8.01 million.
Conclusion
"Salmokji: Whispering Water" continues to lead the South Korean box office, driven by strong audience engagement and critical discussions. As the film's popularity grows, it remains to be seen how it will perform against upcoming releases and whether it can sustain its momentum in the competitive landscape of the Korean film industry.
