PROJECT HAIL MARY fuels Korea's IMAX surge with 410,000 viewers

The domestic theater market in the first half of this year was bustling with audiences seeking overwhelming visual experiences. According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, the total number of viewers who chose special screening formats such as IMAX, SCREENX, and Dolby Cinema from January to June this year reached approximately 2.813 million. This represents a 47.3% increase (903,000 people) compared to the 1.91 million viewers recorded during the same period last year. The proportion of special format viewers among all theatergoers also rose from 4.5% in the first half of last year to 4.9% this year.

By format, the growth of IMAX was particularly prominent. IMAX viewers in the first half reached approximately 1.015 million, a 45.9% increase compared to the same period last year. SCREENX recorded approximately 410,000 viewers (up 32.3%), while 4D saw 786,000 viewers (up 10.2%).

'PROJECT HAIL MARY' Ranks 1st with 410,000 IMAX Viewers

Leading this trend is the Ryan Gosling-led SF film 'PROJECT HAIL MARY.' Based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the film is praised for realizing the vastness of space by filming more than 70% of its total runtime with IMAX cameras. 'PROJECT HAIL MARY' took first place in the first half by drawing 410,000 IMAX viewers and ranked third in SCREENX screenings, following 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' and 'Colony.'

Among the major works of the first half, James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' ranked second with 220,000 IMAX viewers, while Yeon Sang Ho's 'Colony' drew 80,000 viewers.

Nolan, Na Hong-jin, and Others Set to Raid the Second Half with Special Format Blockbusters

The second half of the year promises a lineup of major works with enhanced technical perfection. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' releasing on the 29th of this month, will introduce the 'Short Force SCREENX' system, broadcasting 90 minutes of its runtime across three sides, and featuring a four-sided screen that extends to the ceiling during key sequences like falling scenes.

Christopher Nolan's new film 'The Odyssey,' releasing on the 5th of next month, involves an attempt to film the entire movie using IMAX film cameras. Additionally, Na Hong-jin's SF blockbuster 'Hope' is also scheduled to be released in the Dolby Cinema format.