Flop in cinemas, n. 1 on Netflix: What happened to Murderer Report?

According to Netflix on December 13, the film, released on December 11, quickly surpassed local hits such as The omniscient reader’s point of view AND The devil has enteredas well as international titles, taking first place in the streaming platform’s most popular films ranking.

Murder report it attracted only 360,000 viewers during its theatrical run, far below its break-even point of 1.2 million, despite a production budget of approximately ₩5.5 billion (approximately US$4.2 million). Many critics and audiences attributed its lackluster performance to its 19+ (adults only) rating, arguing that the film actually contained no content that warranted such a restrictive label.

Comments like “The acting gave me chills”, “Why didn’t it do well in theaters?”AND “I don’t see why this was 19+” have made the rounds online, increasing curiosity and attracting audiences.

Released in theaters on September 5th, Murder report Jo Yeo-jeong plays veteran reporter Baek Sun-joo, who receives an interview request from psychiatrist Lee Young-hoon (played by Jung Sung-il), a man who claims to be a serial killer. What unfolds is a chilling psychological thriller.

Movie audiences may have skipped it, but Netflix’s algorithm-based recommendation system helped the film find new life. The platform’s ability to target viewers based on genre preferences has lowered the barrier to entry, especially compared to the time-, money- and effort-intensive theatrical experience.

Many viewers noted that since Netflix’s monthly subscription fee is about the same as a movie ticket, watching from home seemed like a better deal, especially for a movie they might not have been sure about in theaters.

This new trend – “theatrical flop, Netflix hit” – is becoming more and more common. Films that didn’t do well at the box office now find redemption through streaming. Even low budget versions like The price of confession recently overtook Netflix globally, outpacing major titles such as Kpop Demon Hunters.

In case of Murder reportthe combination of strong performances, a suspenseful plot, and the convenience of streaming transformed it from an overlooked box office failure to a viral OTT success.

Sources: Daum

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