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| ▲ A poster of film "Night Fishing," starring Korean actor Song Suk-ku, is provided by movie multiplex chain CGV on June 7, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- The recent release of How to Open a Door, a film produced by actor Kim Nam-gil, joins the emerging "snack movie" trend in theaters, as audiences turn to these shorter-format films as a fresh alternative.
Following prolonged downturns in theater attendance since the pandemic, industry insiders are hopeful that snack movies may bring renewed vitality to the box office.
Kim Nam-gil’s agency, Gilstory ENT, announced on the 13th that How to Open a Door, co-produced with KB Kookmin Bank, will premiere exclusively at Lotte Cinema on November 20.
Directed by Park Ji-wan and Heo Ji-ye, the film follows Haneul, a young adult newly living independently, whose first apartment inexplicably vanishes overnight. Starring Chae Seo-eun, Shim So-young, and Noh Yi-jin, with special appearances by Kim Nam-gil and Ko Gyu-pil, the film runs for 31 minutes and is priced at a reduced ticket price of 3,000 KRW.
The snack movie concept gained traction in June when CGV released Night Fishing, a 13-minute short film produced by and starring Son Suk-ku, for just 1,000 won. Since then, similar short-form films have rolled out in theaters, exemplified by Lotte Cinema’s recent screening of 4 Minutes 44 Seconds, a horror film priced at 4,000 wno, and CGV’s 8-minute animation No Home – The Beginning of a Bad Fate, available for 1,000 won.
Son coined the term "snack movie" from “snack culture,” emphasizing the appeal of enjoying a quick movie experience like a light snack.
While ticket prices for snack movies are up to 15 times cheaper than full-length films, their box office earnings remain modest. According to the Korean Box Office Information System, Night Fishing earned approximately 50 million won, while 4 Minutes 44 Seconds grossed around 160 million won.
Despite these figures, the industry sees value in snack movies for their potential to increase theater foot traffic. By offering viewers a low-commitment, affordable option, theaters aim to make movie-going more accessible and draw in audiences hesitant to return.
An industry insider commented, "Going to the movies is a habit, but theater attendance has waned since COVID-19. Snack movies provide an easy way for people to reengage with cinemas and rebuild this habit."
A multiplex representative echoed this sentiment, stating, "Even brief films can offer the immersive experience unique to theaters, reminding audiences of the value of watching movies offline."
They added that as audiences get used to attending shorter screenings, they may feel more inclined to commit to feature-length films.
"Getting people back into theaters is the biggest hurdle, so we’ll likely see more innovative approaches like this going forward."
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