Record Size Release for Korean Film in Japan
YEON Sang-ho’s zombie smash
TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016) is gearing up for one final victory lap after confirming a theatrical release in Japan. The film will debut September 1st in 44 cities on 148 screens, marking a record for a Korean film in the Japanese market.
The film is being released with the local title Shinkansen: Final Express. Shinkansen is a Japanese homonym that means ‘new infection’ and also refers to a local express train. The film will be made available in 4DX and Screen X formats as well as traditional theaters.
Director YEON’s first live action film,
TRAIN TO BUSAN follows his critically acclaimed animated features
The King of Pigs (2011),
The Fake (2013) and
Seoul Station (2016), which is an animated prequel to the zombie hit. The film stars
GONG Yoo as a father who travels with his daughter by train from Seoul to Busan when a zombie infection breaks out.
TRAIN TO BUSAN debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings section.
TRAIN TO BUSAN is the most successful Korean film of all time globally, with international box office revenue exceeding USD 130 million. This includes 11.57 million viewers in Korea, the 11th best local score for a Korean film, and record-breaking runs in several markets, such as Hong Kong, where it is the most successful Asian release of all time.