Lee Do Hyun And Kim Go Eun’s “Exhuma” Breaks Box Office Record Within Days
One of the most anticipated movies of 2024 has finally been released, and boy is it delivering. Exhuma has taken the Korean film industry by storm, setting new box office records just days after its release.
Starring Lee Do Hyun and Kim Go Eun, alongside seasoned actors Yoo Hae Jin and Choi Min Sik, this occult mystery film has captivated audiences with its unique blend of suspense, horror, and cultural depth.
Exhuma tells the intriguing story of two exorcists, a mortician, and a feng shui master who come together in a daring venture to relocate mysterious graves for a lucrative reward. The narrative weaves together elements of Korean shamanism, the occult, and the supernatural — delivering a cinematic experience that is both thrilling and culturally rich.
The film’s reception at the Korean box office was nothing short of phenomenal. Within the first two days of its release on February 22, Exhuma soared to the top of the box office charts, drawing in an impressive number of moviegoers.
By the morning of February 24, the Korean Film Council reported that the film had already surpassed 1 million admissions, achieving this milestone in less than three days — a feat faster than the previous record-holder, 12.12: The Day, Korea’s biggest box office hit of 2023.
Exhuma will celebrate their 1 million viewers within a week.
What a good start 😊🔥🎉🎊 pic.twitter.com/42rHrfA7pX— Park Jinyoung and Kim GoEun Cells Club (@Jinggone222) February 23, 2024
The film’s success did not stop there. On February 25 — just the fourth day of its release — Exhuma had already exceeded 2 million viewers.
This two amazing shamans got a lot of good reviews, left such impression & lingering feeling to everyone in berlinale…some of them were saying their dymanic & chemistry was beyond good.
Well, how to tell them its (obviously) bcs of kim goeun & lee dohyun forte ✨️ #EXHUMA pic.twitter.com/hOCywP5zxr
— tawwy (@purplishsky_) February 19, 2024
The film was released across 2,086 screens, securing the highest opening score for a film released in Korea with an initial gross of $2,369,404 USD from 336,114 admissions. By the end of its opening weekend, Exhuma had amassed a staggering weekend gross of $14,455,880 USD and attracted 1,963,577 viewers, firmly establishing its position at the top of the Korean weekend box office.
no bcs their combination is so unprovokingly hawt 😩❤️🔥#Exhuma #LeeDoHyun #KimGoEunpic.twitter.com/auvekAqH1Y
— ⛅️ (@kdramatreasure) February 19, 2024
Critics have also lauded the film, with Lee Yoon Seo of The Korea Herald highlighting the strong performances of the veteran cast and the film’s meticulous depiction of Korean shamanism. The film, directed by Jang Jae Hyun, is praised for its super-realistic scenes — including the traditional exhumation process and “gut” rituals intended to appease wandering spirits.
[These scenes] are so realistically portrayed, that the film achieves a new level of horror.
— Lee Yoon Seo
Exhuma‘s record-breaking performance at the box office is a clear indication of the film’s quality and its resonance with audiences, both in Korea and potentially around the world. Thus, it’s not hard to say the movie is a must-watch for cinephiles everywhere. Here’s a trailer to get started:
