“The Assassin(s)” Crosses 3 Million Moviegoers Amid Strong Box-Office Run

Korean historical thriller “The Assassin(s)” surpassed three million cumulative moviegoers at approximately 8 a.m. KST on October 12, according to the Korean Film Council. The achievement makes it the fifth Korean film released in 2026 to reach the milestone.

The film stars Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il and Lee Min Ho in a story investigating the mystery and forces behind the 1974 assassination attempt that shocked South Korea. Its subject places it at the intersection of historical drama and political thriller, with the investigation serving as the central engine of the story.

The three-million milestone follows a sustained run at the top of the Korean box office. According to the report, the film ranked No. 1 at the overall weekly box office for three consecutive weeks. Its third week brought in approximately 758,587 moviegoers, up from 667,698 in the second week. That increase suggests the film continued attracting audiences rather than experiencing the steep drop that can follow an opening-weekend surge.

Its performance has also unfolded amid controversy over historical representation. A debate about alleged historical distortion emerged during the film’s opening week, adding another layer to public discussion of the production. The controversy and the film’s commercial performance are separate issues, and the box-office total alone does not establish why individual viewers chose to see it.

The three-million mark remains an important measure of theatrical reach in South Korea, where domestic films compete with Hollywood releases and other international titles for screen time and audience attention. Reaching it puts “The Assassin(s)” among the year’s most commercially successful Korean releases so far.

The film’s cast is another draw. Yoo Hae Jin has built a long career across comedy, drama and thrillers, while Park Hae Il is known for character-driven performances in Korean cinema. Their involvement gives the production a mix of established acting experience and broad audience recognition.

The film’s theatrical run will determine whether it can add significantly to its cumulative audience in the coming weeks. For now, its latest milestone confirms that it has maintained strong momentum through its third week in cinemas.