Korean fantasy ‘Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy’ closes sales in 113 territories

South Korean action fantasy Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy has been picked up for distribution in 113 territories and topped the local box office on its opening day.

The big budget feature, based on popular web novel and webtoon, has been picked up for Taiwan (Cai Chang), Japan (Twin), the Philippines (Pioneer), Thailand (Sahamongkol) and Australia (K-Movie).

Purple Plan will open the film in Indonesia on July 30 followed by Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei on July 31. In Hong Kong, a July 31 release will be handled by Intercontinental Film Distributors, Neofilms, Emperor Motion Pictures and Just Distribution HK.

As previously announced, Capelight Pictures will open the film in US and Canada on August 1 and will also co-distribute in France. International sales are handled by Smilegate.

Lotte Entertainment opened the feature opened in South Korea on Wednesday (July 23) and took $829,000 from 122,491 admissions. That represented nearly 45% of total box office takings that day and dethroned US tentpole F1, which took $290,000 from 40,786 admissions.

With a budget of more than $22m (KRW30bn), Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is one of the most expensive Korean films to date and has been anticipated to give the local box office a much needed boost.

Directed by Kim Byung-woo, the story follows an ordinary office worker who becomes embroiled in attacks by mythical creatures. However, he recognises details from an online novel he is reading and realises he can rewrite what happens next. He then goes seeking the hero of the story to help prevent the end of the world.

The cast includes Ahn Hyo-seop, a former member of boyband One O One who more recently lent his voice to hit Netflix animation KPop Demon Hunters and Lee Min-ho from Apple TV’s Pachinko.