According to the Korea Film Council, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" became the first Korean film to sell 10 million tickets in 12 days. It broke the existing record held by Bong Joon Ho's "The Host." That film about a toxic monster took nine days longer to sell that many tickets.
"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" has been breaking records since the day it opened. It was the most attended movie on opening day as well as the most attended on a business day. The film sold its first million tickets within the first 37 hours. "Roaring Currents" quickly beat the record of "Kundo: Age of the Rampant," which set a record in Korea during the previous week.
"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" also opened on thirty screens in the U.S. and placed within the top 20 films during its opening weekend. The film surpassed the success of the 2004 Kim Ki Duk film "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring," previously the highest grossing Korean film in the U.S.
The film is based on the true story of Admiral Yi Shun and his naval victory against Japan during the 16th century. The real life admiral, played in the film by Choi Min Suk, defeated 300 Japanese ships with about a dozen ships in his command. He also did so without the turtle ships that were prominent in most of his military strategies. This victory happened during the Battle of Myeong Nyang, which took place in 1597 near Jindo Island.
The positive box office returns may have something to do with the fact that the film is an inspiring story of an underdog who would not consider defeat.
Despite being wildly outnumbered, the admiral accomplished his victory by luring the Japanese battleships into a cleverly designed trap. And the victory almost did not happen as Admiral Yi had previously fallen out of favor with his king. Many people doubted he still had what it took to achieve a victory. Fortunately, the admiral was reinstated and went on to achieve a great victory.
The film also stars Ryu Seung Ryong as the mercenary Kurushima Michifusa, Cho Jin Woong as Wakisaka Yasuharu, Kim Myung Gon as Todo Takatora, Jin Goo as Im Jun Young, Lee Jung Hyun as Lady Jung and Kwon Yul as the admiral's son Yi Hwoe. To defeat the admiral, Kurushima teams up with an assassin, Haru, played by No Min Woo.
Kim Han Min, who directed "War of the Arrows" is the director.
