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Echelon Studios Acquires Korean Box Office Smash ‘12:12 The Day’ for Domestic Release

, in collaboration with 815 Pictures, has officially picked up US distribution rights to Kim Sung-su's latest feature and box office hit, 12:12 The Day.

The historical action drama broke records last year, grossing $90m to become Korea's biggest film of 2023. Since its release, the box office sensation has received rave reviews from critics and left a lasting impression with audiences, and currently leads nominations at this year's Asian Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Based on true events, 12:12 The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup that took place on 12 December 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The film stars Hwang Jung-min (Deliver Us from Evil), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City of Madness), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Park Hae-joon (Believer), Kang Gil-woo (Netflix Original The Glory), and Jung Hae-in (Netflix Original D.P.).

“With 12:12 The Day, Echelon continues its commitment to international filmmakers,” said Sandro Gohoho, President of Licensing and Logistics at Echelon Studios. “Sung-su's thought-provoking film explores an experience so many Koreans are familiar with – illuminating the nine earth-shaking hours that altered the fate of Asia, in a visually stunning way – and brings this important time in history to so many others.”

The movie is currently enjoying a theatrical release in North America, with a streaming release planned for later this year. The movie will be available to pre-order to own on iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Vudu, Vimeo On Demand and On Demand Korea shortly, and lands on free streaming services soon.

About the author

Rouven Linnarz

Ever since I watched Takeshi Kitano's "Hana-Bi" for the first time (and many times after that) I have been a cinephile. While much can be said about the technical aspects of film, coming from a small town in Germany, I cherish the notion of art showing its audience something which one does normally avoid, neglect or is unable to see for many different reasons. Often the stories told in films have helped me understand, discover and connect to something new which is a concept I would like to convey in the way I talk and write about films. Thus, I try to include some info on the background of each film as well as a short analysis (without spoilers, of course), an approach which should reflect the context of a work of art no matter what genre, director or cast. In the end, I hope to pass on my joy of watching film and talking about it.

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