Chiikawa has taken the top spot at the South Korean box office, with Theatrical Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island drawing 20,151 viewers on the previous day, according to the Korea Film Council’s integrated database reported on October 27. The Chiikawa Korean box office run has now reached a cumulative audience of 2,268,277.
The animated film follows the Chiikawa group, lured by the sweet temptation of a 100-fold return, departing for an unknown island on a suspicious extermination mission and uncovering the secrets hidden there. According to Star News Korea, it has surpassed Super Mario Galaxy to rank second at the box office among animated films released in 2026.
A Tight Race Behind the Leader
Behind Chiikawa, the chart is remarkably close. The Assassin, which traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination attempt on South Korea’s First Lady on August 15, 1974, attracted 7,622 viewers to rank second and maintain its top position among Korean films.
Paradise Lost followed with 7,319 viewers, just ahead of Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub with 7,011 and Clayface with 6,898. The total number of cinema visitors on the day was 73,174, a modest figure that underlines how concentrated the market has become around a handful of titles.
Why Chiikawa Matters
Chiikawa’s success is part of a wider story about animation’s strength in Asian markets in 2026. The franchise, built around small, cute characters facing unexpectedly dark adventures, has a devoted fanbase that turns out in force for theatrical releases.
Surpassing Super Mario Galaxy to become the year’s second-biggest animated release in Korea is a meaningful benchmark, and it shows that family animation can still command the top of the chart even in a crowded season.
The Korean Film Fight
For Korean cinema, The Assassin’s position as the top local film is significant. Historical dramas built around real events have long been a staple of the Korean box office, and the film’s ability to hold second place against animated and Hollywood competition suggests strong word of mouth. With Paradise Lost and Tazza close behind, the domestic chart remains competitive heading into the final days of October.
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