Why “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” is Igniting the Hearts of the 30s and 40s
Based on Lee Woo-hyuk’s novel of the same name, “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” has emerged as a dark horse in theaters. The story follows exorcists with special abilities as they battle against evil. Originally serialized in 1993 on the PC communication platform Hi-Tel, the web novel-turned-book series has sold a staggering 10 million copies, making it one of Korea’s best-selling genre novels.
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Breaking the Limits of Korean Animation
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticket sales system, “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” made a surprise debut at No.2 on the box office charts upon its release on February 21 and has remained in the top three ever since. By March 7, it had accumulated 338,301 viewers, even surpassing Hollywood blockbusters like “Captain America: Brave New World”. In a domestic animation market that primarily targets children, the film’s success among adult audiences is an unprecedented feat.
Despite being a low-budget project produced under challenging conditions, the film boasts high-quality 3D graphics, stylish designs and dynamic action sequences that rival international productions. It is even screening in the premium ScreenX format, typically reserved for big-budget blockbusters.
With overwhelmingly positive audience reactions, the film has earned a 96% Golden Egg rating on CGV, surpassing even director Bong Joon-ho’s “Mickey 17” (91%). Furthermore, it has been sold to 12 countries/regions, including North America, South America, Germany and Taiwan, raising anticipation for its overseas performance.
Support from Middle-Aged Fans, Even a Variety Show is in the Works
At the core of “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning”‘ success are middle-aged audiences who were captivated by the original novel in the 1990s. CGV’s ticket reservation analysis reveals that 65% of the film’s audience consists of people in their 30s and 40s, an unusually high percentage for an animated feature. Even viewers in their 50s make up 17% of the audience. This phenomenon draws comparisons to Japan’s “The First Slam Dunk”, which became a long-running hit in 2023 thanks to the strong support of fans who grew up reading the original manga.
Riding on this momentum, interest in the original novel has surged, with “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” topping the weekly bestsellers list in the novel category on the e-book service Millie’s Library. Additionally, YouTube videos explaining the novel’s intricate world-building and settings—details not fully explored in the animation—are rapidly gaining views.
Capitalizing on this renewed interest, TVING has announced plans to produce a variety show based on the “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” universe. TVING stated, “We are set to release the occult action-adventure variety show ‘Shin: Exorcism Chronicles’ (working title) in 2026.”
