'Yadang' Breaks Box Office Records: A New Benchmark for R-Rated Films

The film 'Yadang' has unveiled its impressive box office achievements.

'Yadang' is a crime action film that weaves together the stories of a broker designing the drug scene in South Korea, a prosecutor aiming for higher status, and a detective dedicated to eradicating drug crimes, each with their own motives. Despite its R-rating, 'Yadang' has surpassed expectations, setting various box office records that have captured public attention.

◆ Highest-Grossing R-Rated Korean Film Post-COVID-19

On its 8th day of release, 'Yadang' attracted 1 million viewers, surpassing the previous record held by 'Hidden Face' for the fastest R-rated Korean film to reach 1 million viewers post-COVID-19 (33 days) and its highest box office score (1,014,867 viewers). By its 16th day, 'Yadang' had also surpassed the record set by 'Deadpool and Wolverine' (1,977,010 viewers), setting a new benchmark for R-rated films released after the pandemic.

◆ Most Days at No. 1 in Box Office for 2025 Releases

From its opening day, 'Yadang' claimed the top spot at the box office, maintaining its lead for 14 consecutive days. It reclaimed the No. 1 position on May 1st, during the third week of release, coinciding with a holiday weekend, and achieved the highest seat occupancy rate. Despite competition from new releases like 'Minecraft Movie', 'Thunderbolts', 'Pagua', 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters', and 'Virus', 'Yadang' held the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weekends. It topped the box office for 26 days, surpassing 'Mickey 17' (24 days) and 'The Match' (21 days), earning the title of the most successful release of the year.

◆ Dubbed the 'Drug Version of Inside Men' for Its Entertainment and Artistic Value

'Yadang' has been compared to 'Inside Men', which holds the highest score for R-rated films with a combined audience of 7,073,581 for 'Inside Men' and 2,084,909 for 'Inside Men: The Original'. The film is praised for its realistic characters, thrilling performances, and a storyline reflecting societal issues. Critics and audiences have lauded it as an R-rated film that balances entertainment and artistic merit. As of April 17th, 'Yadang' had a CGV Golden Egg score of 96% and a Lotte Cinema audience rating of 9.2, which have since risen to 97% and 9.4, respectively. This well-crafted R-rated film has revitalized the box office during a typically slow season.

◆ Surpassing 'Mickey 17' to Achieve No. 1 Box Office Spot in 2025

On its 27th day, 'Yadang' reached 3 million viewers, becoming the second film of the year to do so after 'Mickey 17'. The following day, it surpassed 'Mickey 17's record of 3,013,391 viewers, achieving the No. 1 box office spot for 2025 releases. Notably, 'Yadang' reached the 3 million mark 12 days faster than 'Mickey 17' (39 days).

As 'Yadang' continues to show strong box office performance into its fifth week, all eyes are on whether it will set even more records.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr