CJ ENM has sold Paradise Lost, the new psychological thriller from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho, to 118 markets before the film’s domestic release. North America has gone to Well Go USA, Japan to Twin and France to The Jokers Films, with a string of other territory deals already closed.
The sales momentum is not just a festival story. CJ ENM says international sales revenue has already exceeded the film’s net production budget.
The presale as a risk tool
For a film with no domestic box office yet, that is the real number. It means the theatrical run starts with much of its downside covered. Buyers are not waiting to see how Paradise Lost opens in South Korea; they are committing on the strength of the package, the filmmaker and the early screenings.
“These universal emotions are resonating across cultures and generating strong interest in international markets,” CJ ENM said.
The festival route
The film played Toronto’s Special Presentations section and Busan’s Gala Presentation, both to sold-out screenings. Next, it will have its US premiere in the Spotlight on Korea section at the Hawaii International Film Festival on November 1 and 4. HIFF runs from October 21 through November 15.
The sequencing is familiar but effective: a major festival launch creates scarcity, sold-out rooms create a demand signal, and territory sales convert that signal into revenue before the wide release.
Release calendar
- South Korea — October 21
- Taiwan — October 23
- Singapore — November 5
- North America and Vietnam — November 6
- Indonesia — November 13
Among other buyers, Taiwan is with Long Shong, Singapore with Shaw, Spain with Youplanet Pictures, Benelux with 18K Film, the Philippines with Pioneer Films, the Middle East with Gulf Film and Cambodia with Westec Media. Emphasis has inflight rights.
What travels
The story is built on a simple, translatable premise: a mother whose son disappeared nine years earlier when a bus carrying children to a camp vanished, and whose life is upended when the son returns alive. Hyun-joo Kim and Hyeon-seong Bae star.
For sellers and marketers, the lesson is that a clearly stated emotional stake—family and motherhood—can travel further than a complicated plot. The territory split also shows buyers are still willing to pay for theatrical rights when the festival positioning is strong.
What this means for buyers
The international sales tally matters for the film’s economics, but it is also a useful barometer for content teams. A sold-out festival run plus early territory deals is a leading indicator that a title can support a coordinated global release instead of a staggered, wait-and-see rollout.
For media planners, the release dates create a tight, multi-week theatrical window across Asia and North America. That means localized campaign assets can be tested in Korea and Taiwan first, then adapted for Southeast Asia and the US in the following weeks.
Source: Deadline
