My Daughter Is a Zombie (film)

My Daughter Is a Zombie
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
좀비딸
RRJombittal
MRChombittal
Directed byPil Gam-sung
Screenplay by
  • Pil Gam-sung
  • Kim Hyun
Based onMy Daughter Is a Zombie
by Yun-chang Lee
Produced byKwon Mi-kyung
Starring
CinematographyKim Tae-soo
Edited byNam Na-yeong
Music byKim Tae-seong
Production
company
Distributed byNext Entertainment World
Release date
  • July 30, 2025 (2025-07-30)
Running time
113 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Budget₩11 billion[1]
Box officeUS$32 million[2]

My Daughter Is a Zombie (Korean: 좀비딸) is a 2025 South Korean comedy horror film directed by Pil Gam-sung and starring Jo Jung-suk, Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yoo-ri. Film adaptation of manhwa of the same name by Yun-chang Lee, it depicts a father's struggle to protect his daughter, who has been infected with a zombie virus, as he seeks refuge in his mother's rural home.[3]

It was released theatrically on July 30, 2025 in South Korea.[4] The film has grossed $32 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing South Korean film of 2025.

Synopsis

Jung-hwan, a professional tiger trainer, spends his days bickering with his teenage daughter Soo-a, who is passionate about dancing. One day, as a zombie virus sweeps across the globe, Jung-hwan sets off with Soo-a, now infected, to the seaside village of Eunbong-ri, where his mother Bam-sun lives, in a desperate attempt to protect his daughter. Amid a society determined to root out the infected, Soo-a shows faint signs of understanding human speech and even reacts to her favorite things, dancing and her grandmother Bam-sun's backscratcher. Refusing to give up on her, Jung-hwan puts his years of tiger taming experience to use and begins training his zombie daughter.

Cast

Production

In April 2024, Studio N announced that it would adapt manhwa, My Daughter Is a Zombie into a film. Pil Gam-seong was assigned the job of direction.[6]

In June 2024, Lee Jung-eun and Jo Jung-suk were offered roles of mother and son. Choi Yu-ri was also considering the role of daughter of Jo Jung-suk in the film.[7]

The film was announced in July 2024 after completing the cast.[8] Filming began in August 2024.[9] Choi Yu-ri, who portrayed the zombie daughter Soo-ah, for 300-day period wore special makeup spanning from pre-production through filming. Each session lasted two hours and was carefully structured into four progressive stages, reflecting the story and emotional changes of her character.[10]

The film was made on a production budget of ₩11 billion having a break-even point of 2.2 million viewers.[1]

Music

The song "No. 1" by BoA is a major theme in the film.[11]

Release

My Daughter Is a Zombie was released in South Korean theaters on July 30, 2025 by Next Entertainment World.[12] The production report was presented on June 30, 2025 at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.[13]

The film is scheduled for a staggered release across 22 countries in Asia and Oceania. It will premiere in Taiwan on August 1, followed by releases in Indonesia and Vietnam on August 8, and the Philippines on August 13. Subsequent releases are planned for Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei on August 14; Australia, New Zealand, and 12 other Oceanian countries thereafter; and Hong Kong and Macau on August 21.[14]

Reception

Box office

The film topped overall advance ticket sales and recorded the highest single-day pre-release ticket sales of the year on the day prior to its theatrical debut. With a total of 363,749 advance tickets sold, it set a new record for the highest pre-release sales for any film released in 2025 so far.[15][16] The film was released on July 30, 2025 on 1557 screens.[17] It opened at the top recording 430,091 viewers on its opening day at the Korean box office. The film achieved the highest opening score of the year for the films released till date and set a new record for the highest opening for a Korean comedy film to date.[18] On August 2, it surpassed 1 million cumulative viewers in four days of its release by registering 1,146,221 cumulative audience,[19] and by August 4, it surpassed 2 million cumulative viewers in six days of its release.[20] As of August 9, the film surpassed 3 million cumulative viewers in 11 days since its release.[21] On August 15, it recorded 4,004,640 cumulative viewers and became the first and fastest film to surpass 4 million viewers among films released in South Korea in 2025.[22]

As of August 21, 2025, the film has grossed US$31,983,371 from 4,734,034 admissions.[17][2] It recovered its production cost within 8 days of release, becoming a commercial success.[23]

Critical response

Woo Jae-yeon writing the review of the film in Yonhap News, wrote that the film has received attention for its strong performances, with particular praise directed at the central father-daughter dynamic, which serves as the emotional anchor of the narrative. Choi's portrayal of a character situated between human and zombie identities was highlighted for its nuance and depth, writing "Choi's nuanced portrayal of a half-human, half-zombie is a standout." Woo noted the film’s deliberate use of retro stylistic choices, which set it apart from the contemporary trend of sleek, genre-driven Korean cinema. Concluding his review Woo opinioned, "the film is a perfect escape for the scorching summer season," for the viewers seeking a surprising blend of sentiment and escapism.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b Kim Ji-hye (July 31, 2025). "조정석, 또 해냈다 …'엑시트'→'파일럿'→'좀비딸' 3연속 여름 흥행" [Jo Jung-seok did it again… Three consecutive summer hits: "Exit," "Pilot," and "Zombie Daughter"]. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2025". KOFIC. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  3. ^ Lee Ji-won (May 1, 2025). 조정석, 딸이 좀비로 변했다?...영화 '좀비딸', 7월 개봉 확정 [Jo Jung-seok, Daughter Turned Into a Zombie?...Movie 'Zombie Daughter' Confirmed for Release in July]. MHN (in Korean). Retrieved June 28, 2025 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Kim Yu-jin (July 30, 2025). 좀비는 거들 뿐…능수능란 조정석, 연기 차력쇼 앙상블 [다시, 흥행의 정석①] [Zombies are just a distraction... Jo Jung-seok's skillful acting ensemble [Again, the box office classic ①]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Jo Yoon-jin (July 8, 2025). "최유리, '외계+인' 김우빈 딸→'좀비딸' 조정석 딸로...스크린 첫 주연" [Choi Yuri, 'Alien+Human' Kim Woo-bin's daughter → 'Zombie Daughter' Jo Jung-suk's daughter... First leading role on screen]. MHN Sports (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  6. ^ Go Jin-young (April 15, 2024). "네이버웹툰, 웹툰 <좀비딸> 영화로 만든다" [Naver Webtoon to Make Webtoon <Zombie Daughter> into a Movie]. The Bell (in Korean). Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  7. ^ Jang Ye–sol (June 20, 2024). "조정석 이정은 '좀비딸'서 모자 호흡 맞출까 "긍정 검토 중" [공식입장]" [Jo Jung-suk and Lee Jung-eun to work together as mother and son in 'Zombie Daughter': "Positively considering" [Official Position]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  8. ^ Ha, Su-jeong (July 9, 2024). '좀비딸' 조정석→이정은, 원작 싱크로율 100% 캐스팅 완성 [공식] ['Zombie Daughter' Jo Jung-seok → Lee Jung-eun, Casting Complete with 100% Synchronization with the Original [Official]]. OSEN. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "My Daughter Is a Zombie". HanCinema. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  10. ^ Kang Hyo-jin (August 18, 2025). ""분장만 2시간"…'좀비딸', 좀비 최유리→할머니 이정은 특수분장 비하인드" ["2 hours of makeup alone"... Behind the scenes of the special makeup for "Zombie Daughter," transforming Choi Yu-ri into zombie and Lee Jung-eun into grandmother]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Park Won-hee (July 29, 2025). "'좀비딸' 필감성 감독 "'좀비와 가족 될 수 있나'에 매료돼"" [Director Pil Gam-seong of "Zombie Daughter": "I was captivated by 'Can You Become Family with a Zombie?'"]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  12. ^ Park Jae-hwan (June 27, 2025). 조정석 코미디 '좀비딸' 여름 개봉...."나의 딸은 좀비다. " [Jo Jung-seok's comedy 'Zombie Daughter' opens this summer... "My daughter is a zombie."]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  13. ^ Yoon Hyun-ji (June 30, 2025). 여름 치트키 조정석, '좀비딸'로 3연타 노린다 "재미·감동 모두 있어" (엑's 현장)[종합] [Summer Cheat Key Jo Jeong-seok, Aiming for a 3-peat with 'Zombie Daughter' "It's both fun and touching" (X's site) [Comprehensive]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  14. ^ Jeong Han-byeol (July 2, 2025). "조정석 주연 '좀비딸', 22개국 순차 개봉 확정" [Jo Jung-seok's 'Zombie Daughter' Confirmed for Sequential Release in 22 Countries]. The Korea Times (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  15. ^ "Daily Box Office". KOBIS (in Korean). Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  16. ^ Kim Ji-woo (July 30, 2025). "조정석이 또…'좀비딸' 2025 최고치 경신했다" [Jo Jung-seok again... "Zombie Daughter" breaks 2025 record high]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "My Daughter Is a Zombie (2025) at KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Korean films". KOFIC. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  18. ^ Seo Ji-hyun (July 31, 2025). "'좀비딸', 2025 최고 오프닝 스코어…'파묘→극한직업'도 제쳤다" ["Zombie Daughter" has the highest opening score of 2025, even beating "Extreme Job"]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  19. ^ Lee Min-ji (August 2, 2025). "여름엔 조정석! '좀비딸' 개봉 4일만 100만 관객 돌파" [Jo Jung-seok in summer! "Zombie Daughter" surpasses 1 million viewers in just four days.]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  20. ^ Jeong Yu-jin (August 4, 2025). "흥행 질주 '좀비딸', 개봉 6일째 만에 200만 돌파…올해 최단 기록" ["Zombie Daughter," a box office hit, surpassed 2 million viewers in just six days, setting a new record this year.]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  21. ^ Jimin Kyung (August 9, 2025). "'좀비딸', 11일 만에 300만 돌파..조정석 '소다팝' 챌린지 본다 [공식]" ["Zombie Daughter" surpasses 3 million views in 11 days... Jo Jung-seok takes on the "Soda Pop" challenge [Official]]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  22. ^ Kim Won-gyeom (August 15, 2025). "'좀비딸', 관객 400만 돌파…2025년 최고 흥행작 등극" ["Zombie Daughter" surpasses 4 million viewers, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2025.]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  23. ^ Dawon Lee (August 6, 2025). "'좀비딸' 손익분기점 넘었다…222만↑" ["Zombie Daughter" breaks even, with 2.22 million viewers]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  24. ^ Woo, Jae-yeon (July 25, 2025). "(Movie Review) Not average zombie flick: 'My Daughter is a Zombie' blends humor, heart, horror". Yonhap News. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
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