Fantasy action blockbuster Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy opened on July 23 and shot straight to number one at the Korean box office. According to the Korean Film Council, the film attracted 122,491 viewers on its first day across 1,581 screens, accounting for 44.6% of total ticket sales.
It outperformed the opening of Yadang: The Snitch, which had the biggest Korean debut of 2025 until now.
Directed by Kim Byung Woo (The Terror Live, The Great Flood), the film is based on the globally popular web novel of the same name, which has amassed over 200 million views. The story centers on Kim Dok Ja, the only reader of a decade-long serial novel who suddenly finds its world becoming real. With the novel’s protagonist Yoo Jung Hyuk and other characters, he must survive in a now-collapsed society.
Ahn Hyo-seop leads the cast as Kim Dok Ja, with Lee Min Ho playing Yoo Jung Hyuk in his first film role in ten years. Chae Soo Bin, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Shin Seung Ho, and Nana also star. Lee’s return to film and Jisoo’s star presence have drawn global attention to the movie.
With a production budget of ₩30 billion (approx. $21.5 million), the film is one of the most expensive Korean productions in recent years. Industry watchers view its success as crucial to reviving Korean cinema’s global momentum following years of slowdown.
Despite mixed early reactions about the film’s adaptation and special effects, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy scored 85% on CGV’s Egg Index. The film faced criticism from loyal readers of the webtoon for changes to the original, including Jisoo’s character and Bihyung’s design.
F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt, which previously led the box office, fell to second place with 40,000 daily viewers and a cumulative total of over 2 million. As of July 24, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy leads in advance reservations with a 21.2% share, followed by My Daughter Is A Zombie (17.8%) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (16.7%).
Part of the Korean feature film slate, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is set for its North American premiere at the 2025 New York Asian Film Festival. The film will screen on Saturday, July 26 at 9 p.m. EDT at SVA Theatre (Silas Theatre). The film will see a wider North American release on August 1, 2025.
