The One Korean Movie Gen Z to Boomers Picked as Their #1 Must-Watch

2025-05-12 16:51

Selected as the #1 Most-Wanted Film by 5,000 Korean Men and Women in Their 20s to 50s

The Korean film The Old Woman With The Knife (Korean title: 파과) is generating major buzz among Korean moviegoers. According to a survey released on May 9 by data consulting firm PMI through the poll app HeyPoll, The Old Woman With The Knife was voted the "most anticipated movie of next week" by 9.9% of 5,000 men and women aged 20 to 50.

The Old Woman With The Knife Still Cut. / Courtesy of NEW

The Old Woman With The Knife is an action thriller about a legendary hitwoman named Jogak (played by Lee Hye-young), who takes on one last mission before retirement. Her plans take an unexpected turn with the arrival of a young and gifted assassin named Tu-u (Kim Sung-cheol), leading to an intense psychological battle rather than mere cooperation. With a strong script and nuanced performances, the film is being praised for delivering a heavier emotional weight compared to traditional action flicks. The supporting cast also includes major rising stars like Resident Playbook's Shin Si-ah.

According to real-time box office data from the Korean Film Council, The Old Woman With The Knife currently ranks #2 in advance ticket sales, #3 at the box office, and #5 in seat occupancy. Since its release on April 30, word-of-mouth has driven its rapid rise to popularity, gaining a cross-generational fan base that includes both younger and older viewers.

Experts point to the film’s realism, relatable generational themes, and the fierce psychological duel between Jogak and Tu-u as key reasons for its popularity. The chemistry between the veteran Lee Hye-young and rising star Kim Sung-cheol is also being highlighted as a major draw.

The Old Woman With The Knife Cast. / Courtesy of NEW

All eyes are now on whether The Old Woman With The Knife can maintain momentum at the box office and become a long-term success during Korea’s competitive summer movie season.

The #2 most-anticipated film, according to the survey, is Seizure: The Beginning of Rebellion, a political documentary that garnered 9.6% of responses. The film focuses on a 7-year battle between investigative news outlet Newstapa and President Yoon Suk-yeol, shedding light on press suppression and abuse of power. It was released on April 23.

Ranking #3 with 9.4% is Holy Night: Demon Hunters, a supernatural action thriller in which a secret exorcism squad, led by former exorcist Bau (Ma Dong-seok), battles demonic forces in the city.

Coming in at #4 with 9.2% is Marvel’s Thunderbolts, the much-hyped conclusion to the MCU, featuring a team of anti-heroes grappling with their past sins. As of this writing, Thunderbolts is #2 in box office and seat occupancy, and #4 in advance ticket sales.

Other notable titles on the list include Conclave (7.4%), Virus (5.8%), Snail’s Memoir (5.1%), Happy End (5.1%), and Namibia’s Desert (5.1%).

The online survey was conducted by PMI with a 95% confidence level and a ±1.39% margin of error. The poll included 5,000 Korean adults in their 20s to 50s, excluding films rated 19+.