Latest news with #ZombieDaughter
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Changing the Ending Was a Masterstroke... 'Zombie Daughter' Becomes a Model for Webtoon Adaptations
Zombie Daughter and the original webtoon A Zombie Comedy with an Unexpectedly Warm Heart Released on July 30, Zombie Daughter sprinted past the 3 million audience mark in just 11 days - the fastest pace of any 2025 film. According to the Korean Film Council , it beat out big-ticket blockbusters like Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning (23 days), Yadang (27 days), F1 The Movie (40 days), and Mickey 17 (39 days). With this momentum, industry tracking suggests it could pass 5 million viewers - a figure that would crown it as Korea's biggest domestic film of the year. The real twist here isn't just in the box office numbers, but in the story itself. While the original webtoon had a tragic ending, the film opts for an open, hopeful finale. Director Pil Gam-seong, production studio N, and webtoon creator Lee Yoon-chang agreed early on to change the final scene. This wasn't random - the distributor, NEW, learned from its 2018 release Swing Kids, where a sad ending capped audiences at 1.47 million. The takeaway? In a family-oriented tentpole, leaving viewers with optimism is a far better formula for repeat visits. Laughter, Tears, and Just the Right Amount of Zombie The plot follows Jung-hwan (Jo Jung-suk), a warmhearted wild animal trainer, as he takes his daughter Soo-ah (Choi Yu-ri) - who happens to be the last zombie on earth - into secluded training to hide her identity from the world. The film's humor peaks in moments like Soo-ah's grandmother (Lee Jung-eun) smacking her with a wooden massage stick every time she lunges. According to CGV's audience breakdown, roughly 23% of viewers are in their 20s, another 23% in their 30s, and the largest slice - 33% - are in their 40s. This means plenty of family audiences coming in groups, sometimes across three generations. Think of a Bollywood crowd for 3 Idiots - diverse in age, united in laughter. Ticket sales so far showing its commercial heft. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Respecting the Source While Making It Shine Many webtoon adaptations flop because they cut or change too much of what made the original appealing. Zombie Daughter avoids that trap by preserving its emotional core: acceptance and love for someone who has changed beyond recognition. Critic Yoon Sung-eun has even hailed it as "a model case for webtoon film adaptations." Jo Jung-suk's performance is key here. Director Pil confessed he wrote the role with Jo in mind, and as a father himself, Jo channels a balance of goofy dad warmth and fierce protectiveness. His shifts from humor to heartfelt moments mirror his track record in summer blockbusters like Exit (2019, 9.42 million viewers) and Pilot (2024, 4.71 million viewers). Another unexpected spark? The use of BoA's early 2000s hit "Number One" as a thematic anchor - it's the song Soo-ah trains to, and it bookends the film. For older audiences, it's nostalgia; for younger ones, it's an earworm. More Than Just Popcorn Entertainment Beneath the laughs, the film carries a clear message. Soo-ah's zombie condition doubles as a metaphor for rebellious teens, marginalized outsiders, or anyone society labels as "different." Jung-hwan's patience and persistence speak to a universal desire for empathy and inclusion in a time of deep social divides. And then there's the scene-stealing cat, Aeyongi (real name Geum-dong), who was cast via audition. The feline's natural charm meant nearly no CGI was used, and its bond with Soo-ah became a quiet emotional anchor for many viewers. With humor, multi-generational appeal, a nostalgic soundtrack, and a hopeful reimagining of its source material, Zombie Daughter stands as proof that sometimes... changing the ending can change the entire fate of a film.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘My Daughter is a Zombie': The Korean movie breaking all records, even Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible
Are you missing Korean zombie movies and series like All of Us Are Dead , Sweet Home , or Kingdom ? Then here's some good news for you—a new Korean zombie film is now making waves. Titled ' My Daughter is a Zombie ' in English (in Korean its named Zombie Daughter ), the movie has stormed into theaters and rewrote box office history. The zombie comedy attracted a staggering 430,091 moviegoers on opening day, setting a new record for the biggest opening day audience ever for a Korean comedy—and for any Korean film to date, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Data Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics PGDM Degree Digital Marketing Product Management Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Design Thinking Others Management CXO Healthcare healthcare Data Science Finance Technology MCA others Public Policy MBA Leadership Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details The total footfall across all theaters that day reached 862,234 admissions, making it one of the busiest cinema days of the year in South Korea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo Crushing Records, Outpacing Blockbusters 'My Daughter is a Zombie' didn't just perform well—it dominated. It dethroned the previous comedy record-holder, Extreme Job (2019), which had pulled in 368,582 viewers on its first day. It even surpassed the Hollywood blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023), which opened with 423,892 viewers. Other recent hits like Pamyo and Pilot were easily left behind, underscoring just how massive Zombie Daughter's debut truly was. Live Events Heart and Humor: A Family Story with Fangs What sets 'My Daughter is a Zombie' apart is its surprising emotional core. Rather than leaning on blood and horror, the film weaves a heartwarming tale of a father trying to protect his daughter—the last living zombie on Earth. The result is a perfect blend of slapstick comedy, unexpected tenderness, and chaotic adventures. As the father hides his undead daughter from prying neighbors and overly curious relatives, audiences are treated to scenes that are both hilarious and deeply moving. Add in secret zombie-smuggling missions and a cast of eccentric side characters, and it's no wonder the film has sparked both laughter and tears in theaters nationwide. A Historic Debut Titled My Daughter is a Zombie in English, the film premiered on July 30 and immediately shattered records with 430,000 opening day admissions—the highest for any film in Korea this year. In one swift move, it dethroned Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning and positioned itself as a cultural sensation.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Zombie Comedy Shakes Up Korea: 'Zombie Daughter' Sets All-Time Opening Day Record
The Movie That Ate Up the Box Office: All-Time No.1 Opening Day On July 31, 2025, ' Zombie Daughter ' made history. The film attracted 430,091 moviegoers nationwide on opening day, setting a new record for the highest opening day audience ever for a Korean comedy-and any Korean film, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This explosive debut meant the total audience across all theaters reached 862,234 people, making that day one of the busiest cinema days of the year in Korea. Crushing the Competition: Record-Breaking Audience Numbers 'Zombie Daughter' didn't just break records-it left major titles in its wake. The previous comedy record-holder, 'Extreme Job' (2019), drew 368,582 viewers on the first day. The international blockbuster 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning' (2023) attracted 423,892 viewers. Popular recent films like 'Pamyo' and 'Pilot' were comfortably left behind, underlining Zombie Daughter's overwhelming popularity. Family Drama with a Bite: Undead Meets Heart What sets this movie apart? Instead of the usual gore or horror, 'Zombie Daughter' offers a refreshingly warm family story at the heart of its zombie plot. The story centers on a father doing everything possible to protect his daughter-the last surviving zombie on Earth. Laugh-out-loud moments abound as they hide her from nosy neighbors and suspicious relatives, blended seamlessly with touching scenes that reveal deep parental love and sacrifice. The film's wild twists include secret zombie-smuggling escapades and quirky supporting characters who add chaos and charm. This unique mix of humor, action, and emotion has won audiences over, sparking laughter and tears alike.
