The acclaimed Korean zombie thriller, “Colony,” has shattered box office records across Southeast Asia, establishing itself as a global phenomenon. In Malaysia, the film has attracted an astounding 1,511,802 admissions as of Sunday, making it the most-watched Korean film in the country’s box office history. This record-breaking success continues the legacy of director Yeon Sang-ho, whose previous zombie blockbusters, “Train to Busan” (2016) and “Peninsula” (2020), previously held the second and third spots, respectively, in Malaysia.
“Colony” also demonstrated exceptional popularity in other key markets. In Indonesia, the film garnered 1,062,394 cumulative admissions, securing its position as the second most-watched Korean film ever released in the nation. Similarly, in the Philippines, it drew 347,438 admissions, ranking as the second-most popular Korean film there. Beyond these impressive figures, “Colony” has consistently ranked among the top five most-watched Korean films across Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, solidifying its regional dominance.
From the visionary director Yeon Sang-ho, “Colony” plunges audiences into a gripping post-apocalyptic world. The plot centers on biotechnology professor Se-jeong, masterfully portrayed by Jun Ji-hyun, as she leads a desperate group of survivors fighting to escape a building overrun and locked down by a deadly virus outbreak. The star-studded cast also features Koo Kyo-hwan as a mysterious lone wolf researcher with an unusual control over zombies, alongside Ji Chang-wook and Kim Shin-rok, who play courageous survivors battling the undead alongside Jun Ji-hyun.
On its home ground in Korea, the blockbuster has achieved remarkable success, logging over 5 million admissions. This milestone makes “Colony” only the second film released this year to reach such a feat, following the celebrated Korean history drama “The King’s Warden.”
