Suzume Is Now the Most-Attended Japanese Film of All Time in South Korea

 

Now that Suzume has been mostly unleashed into the world, it will be interesting to see how the film lands with English-speaking audiences in comparison to the record-breaking numbers the Makoto Shinkai-directed film has grossed in Asia so far. Suzume has added yet another record in South Korea over the last few days, becoming the most-attended Japanese film of all time in the country.

 

 

Thank you so much & congratulations to all the Korean fans! https://t.co/eSJZscK4QW

— 新海誠 (@shinkaimakoto) April 14, 2023

 

 

Suzume scored past THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, which only recently took the crown of the most-attended Japanese film in South Korea in March after overtaking Your Name. Both films are still playing in South Korean theaters, but Suzume’s rise overtook THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, which is at 4,484,722 tickets sold compared to Suzume’s 4,598,245 tickets sold.

 

At US$36,233,776, Suzume is currently the highest-grossing film of the year so far in South Korea in front of Avatar: The Way of Water’s US$36,199,621. THE FIRST SLAM DUNK is in third place in box office gross at US$$35,737,524 and second in admissions.

 

 

RELATED: Suzume Sails Past One Piece Film Red to Be 4th Highest-Grossing Anime Film of All Time Worldwide

 

Suzume is directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also penned the screenplay for the film alongside Masayoshi Tanaka as the character designer, Kenichi Tsuchiya as the animation director and Takumi Tanji as the art director with animation production at CoMix Wave Films. 

 

Suzume was released in Japan on November 11 with Crunchyroll teaming up with Sony Pictures and Wild Bunch International to bring the feature to global audiences outside of Asia starting April 12, 2023.

 

Synopsis:

On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—

 

“Suzume no Tojimari” is a coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation. 

 

Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.

 

—The stars, then sunset, and the morning sky.

 

Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky…

 

Never-before-seen scenery, encounters and farewells… A myriad of challenges await her on her journey. Despite all the obstacles in her way, Suzume’s adventure shines a ray of hope upon our own struggles against the toughest roads of anxiety and constraints that make up everyday life. This story of closing doors that connect our past to the present and future will leave a lasting impression upon all of our hearts. 

 

Drawn in by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin. 

 

Sources: Makoto Shinkai on Twitter, KOFIC

 

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Daryl Harding is a Senior Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.