[Wikitree] Korean Film That Only 20,000 People Watched... Rises to #1 Immediately After Netflix Release

• Korean film that only 20,000 people watched... rises to #1 immediately after Netflix release

• OTT platform shines new light on Song Jae-rim's final performance

  
  

There's a Korean film that was thoroughly ignored by audiences during its theatrical release, but saw its fortunes completely reversed after arriving on OTT platforms.

This is the story of 'Crypto Man,' which is also the late actor Song Jae-rim's final work.

'Crypto Man,' released in theaters in January this year, quietly left theaters after accumulating just 22,000 viewers. It had no promotion from major distributors, limited screen count, and lacked the famous franchise or star power to attract public attention. However, this film, which received almost no attention in theaters, has emerged as the protagonist of a "reverse run," claiming the #1 spot in the Korean film category immediately after its Netflix release.

'Crypto Man' is a crime drama inspired by the 2022 Luna and Terra cryptocurrency crash. Based on an actual incident that caused 50 trillion won in damages and affected 280,000 victims, it persistently delves into the greed and manipulation surrounding cryptocurrency, the hollow desires of young people, and the blind spots in systems hidden behind them. Instead of commercial sensationalism or flashy action, this work directly confronts the flaws of capitalism through a documentary-like perspective and weighty narrative.

Song Jae-rim played the protagonist Yang Do-hyun. He portrays a character who fraudulently receives youth startup funds, goes through intentional bankruptcies and business closures, and then reinvents himself as a cryptocurrency developer. The downfall process of Yang Do-hyun, who accumulates wealth by exploiting loopholes in social systems only to lose everything in an instant, touches not just on individual ruin but also the frustration shared by an entire generation. To immerse himself in the character, Song Jae-rim continuously studied financial crime articles and cryptocurrency communities, expressing complex psychological states in a restrained manner throughout the work.

This film is also Song Jae-rim's posthumous work. He unexpectedly passed away at his home last November. 'Crypto Man' leaves an even more poignant impression as it represents his final performance. Though he didn't have sufficient opportunity to promote this work during his lifetime, it has now gained the world's attention through Netflix.

Director Hyun Harry, who directed 'Crypto Man,' is a former current affairs PD and an actual victim of the Luna incident. Based on her experience, she wrote a realistic script and maintained a balanced perspective by neither demonizing nor glorifying specific individuals. The director stated, "Most crimes begin not from grand motives, but from very trivial interests," and this perspective is reflected throughout the film.

The success of 'Crypto Man' is part of the recent trend of Korean films gaining recognition through OTT platforms after theatrical release. Previously, films like 'The Family,' 'Stella,' and 'Bogota' also recorded audiences of around 100,000 in theaters but were reevaluated after their Netflix release, reaching the domestic Top 10.

Additionally, OTT platforms offer the advantage of reaching global viewers simultaneously. 'Crypto Man' was released worldwide with English subtitles, providing an opportunity for themes like Korea's cryptocurrency fever and the struggles of the younger generation to resonate across borders. It's reported that some foreign film communities have already responded describing it as "a work portraying the human consequences of cryptocurrency collapse."

In the past, ten million viewers seemed like the absolute standard for a film's success. Now, however, Netflix Top 10, viewing time, topic relevance, and review spread are emerging as new measurements. 'Crypto Man' stands as a prime example of this change. A theatrical flop seen by only 20,000 people is now being newly illuminated as an actor's posthumous work with a social message, reaching numerous viewers on Netflix.

The Netflix "Today's Top 10 Movies in South Korea" rankings (as of 11:30 AM on the 25th) are as follows:

1. Crypto Man

2. Stella

3. The Family

4. i-Hostage

5. Filial Duty

6. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning

7. Im Young-woong I Am Hero The Stadium

8. Dream Palace

9. Shinkansen Big Explosion

10. Firefighter