Lee Sun-bin's 'Noise' Ranked Second at Box Office, Surpassing Hollywood Titans

Time of India

12-07-2025

Lee Sun-bin's 'Noise'
Korean Cinema's Strength Shines Among Hollywood Blockbusters
Great news is coming from the Korean film industry. Lee Sun-bin's
horror thriller
'Noise' is steadily maintaining its position in the upper ranks of the box office, standing shoulder to shoulder with major Hollywood blockbusters like 'Superman', 'Jurassic World: New Beginning', and 'F1 The Movie'.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated box office system, 'Noise' has been consistently ranking in the 2nd-3rd position in daily box office charts, showing stable box office performance. Particularly during its second weekend, the film attracted over 326,000 viewers, recording more than double the numbers from its opening weekend. This phenomenon, known as 'reverse run' in the film industry, is a positive sign where initially modest box office performance gradually rises through word-of-mouth.
The Power of Relatable Real-Life Subject Matter
The biggest reason 'Noise' has captured audiences' hearts is its realistic subject matter of inter-floor noise that everyone can relate to. In Korean society where apartment living has become commonplace, inter-floor noise is no longer someone else's problem. Viewers who watched the film are responding enthusiastically to the realistic setting.
The setting of an old rental apartment facing reconstruction is particularly effective as it's an environment many people have experienced or witnessed, providing vivid immersion. The mysterious events unfolding in such everyday spaces are drawing reactions.
Immersive Experience Created by Sound Design and Direction
Another strength of 'Noise' is its excellent sound design and directorial skills. True to its title, this film focuses on 'noise' as its main element, concentrating on auditory horror rather than visual scares to provide a differentiated experience.
Director Kim Su-jin emphasized the importance of theatrical viewing, stating that "horror films are a genre where effects are maximized when watched in theaters," and indeed many audiences are experiencing the immersion and tension that can only be felt in cinemas.
Lee Sun-bin's Solo Performance and Solid Storytelling
Lee Sun-bin's first horror film challenge has also become a major talking point. Appearing in most scenes as the solo lead carrying the entire film, she delicately expressed the anxious and restless emotions of a sister who lost her sibling. Audiences are praising her acting skills, saying "Lee Sun-bin's acting is absolutely incredible. She maintained the emotional line and carried it through to the end."
Rather than screaming or exploding emotionally like typical horror protagonists, she created 'Noise's unique character through someone who loses their sense of reality due to noise, earning praise for the film's distinctive color.
Success Story Showing Mid-Budget Film Potential
Despite being a mid-budget film with approximately ₹37 crore (5 billion won) in production costs, 'Noise' is gaining attention for earning audience approval without massive production budgets or star casting. This is being evaluated as a case that presents new possibilities for the Korean film industry.
Particularly centered around audiences in their teens and twenties, voluntary word-of-mouth has spread through social media and online communities, drawing positive reactions like "It may not be a blockbuster, but the direction and immersion are incredible. The money was well spent."