The critically acclaimed film The Owner of the World (세계의 주인) has become the highest-grossing Korean independent art house film of 2025 so far, drawing over 120,000 viewers despite limited screen availability. According to data from the Korean Film Council as of November 23, the film has been showing strong endurance into its fifth week, buoyed by positive word of mouth and wide support from audiences and celebrities alike.
Stars such as Kim Hye-soo, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Eui-sung, Park Jung-min, Song Eun-i, and Lee Jun-hyuk, as well as director Choi Dong-hoon, have participated in special screening events to support the film. Group bookings and theater rental requests are also on the rise, highlighting the film’s growing popularity.
Why it matters
The Owner of the World is director Yoon Ga-eun’s third feature, following her acclaimed films The World of Us and The House of Us. This coming-of-age story centers on Joo-in, a mysterious 18-year-old high school girl who refuses to participate in a school-wide petition and starts receiving anonymous notes. The film has already premiered at top international festivals, including being the only Korean film invited to the competition section of the Toronto International Film Festival. It also won two awards at the Pingyao International Film Festival and took home the FIPRESCI Prize at the Warsaw International Film Festival. Notably, it has also secured a Chinese distributor — a rare feat amid stringent restrictions on Korean media exports.
With growing global acclaim and a dedicated fanbase at home, many are now watching to see whether it can cross the 150,000 ticket mark soon.
Source (KR): https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1008342172&plink=RSSLINK&cooper=RSSREADER