'12.12: The Day' becomes second film this year to hit 10M

"12.12: The Day" gained 10 million viewers, making it the second film this year and the 22nd domestically produced film ever to achieve this feat. Released 33 days ago, it is the first non-franchise film to reach this milestone since "Parasite."

A scene from ″12.12: The Day″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

Historical film “12.12: The Day” surpassed 10 million cumulative viewers Sunday, becoming the second film this year to hit the milestone after “The Roundup: No Way Out” and the 22nd domestically produced film to ever achieve the feat.

“12.12: The Day” peaked at 10 million ticket sales on Sunday morning, 33 days after its release, according to distributor Plus M Entertainment, based on data from the integrated computer network for ticket sales of the Korean Film Council.

The film is the first non-franchise movie to garner 10 million viewers since 2019’s “Parasite” and the first non-franchise film since the Covid-19 pandemic to make the breakthrough. All other films between “Parasite” and “12.12: The Day” that have gained 10 million viewers have been sequels or follow-ups to previous works, such as “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022).

The main poster for ″12.12: The Day″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

“12.12: The Day” follow nine hours during the historic day of Dec. 12, 1979, when a military coup d’état is about to break out in Seoul. Actors Hwang Jung-min and Jung Woo-sung play fictional versions of former president Chun Doo Hwan and a military leader who opposes him, respectively.

The film is directed by Kim Sung-su, who is known for films such as “Beat” (1997),” “Musa” (2001) and “Asura: The City of Madness” (2016).

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]