"It was ignored in theaters, but it succeeded at home."
The South Korean occult film 'Three Days', which only attracted 200,000 viewers in theaters and faced a bitter experience, is creating a phenomenon by sweeping the charts immediately after its release on Netflix. It has made a spectacular comeback on the OTT platform after overcoming its theatrical struggles.
Released worldwide on Netflix on the 20th, 'Three Days' shot to No. 2 in the Korean Netflix movie category just one day after its release on the 21st. As of the 23rd, it has firmly maintained its position at No. 2 for three consecutive days, proving the intense interest from home viewers. This unexpected achievement comes about 1 year and 3 months after its theatrical release in November 2024.
At the time of its release, 'Three Days' was noted as a highly anticipated South Korean occult film expected to follow the success of the 10 million viewer film 'The Grave'. Notably, actor Park Shin-yang returned to the screen after 11 years since 'The Outlaws', and Lee Min-ki made his debut in the role of an exorcist, generating buzz. The film depicts the struggle to stop a demon awakening from the heart of a deceased daughter during the three days of her funeral, featuring a unique setting that combines South Korea's three-day funeral culture with Catholic exorcism.
However, the performance during its theatrical release was dismal. It faced harsh criticism for its ordinary development and direction compared to the marketing expectations of a 'blockbuster-level film', resulting in a box office failure. The Naver audience rating also lingered at 5.93 points. Ironically, this 'lightness' is being analyzed as a strength in the OTT environment.
Industry experts point to the 'lowered viewing threshold' as the secret to 'Three Days' success on Netflix. Unlike theaters, where viewers carry the burden of ticket prices and high expectations, OTT platforms are preferred for light 'killing time' content driven by genre curiosity. In fact, there has been a positive re-evaluation of the film, noting that the actors' performances and the unique atmosphere of the occult genre provide sufficient immersion for home viewing.
The influx of a dedicated fanbase for the occult genre and the star power of reliable actors like Park Shin-yang and Lee Min-ki are also major factors driving clicks. It remains to be seen how far 'Three Days', which almost became a forgotten work, can soar with the wings of Netflix.
