According to Netflix on December 13, the film—released on December 11—quickly outpaced local hits like Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint and The Devil Moved In, as well as international titles, claiming the top spot in the streaming platform’s popular movies ranking.
Murderer Report drew just 360,000 viewers during its theatrical run, far short of its 1.2 million break-even point, despite a production budget of approximately ₩5.5 billion (about $4.2 million USD). Many critics and audiences blamed its lackluster performance on its 19+ (adults only) rating, arguing that the film didn’t actually contain content warranting such a restrictive label.
Comments like “The acting gave me chills”, “Why didn’t this do well in theaters?”, and “I don’t see why this was 19+” have been making rounds online, boosting curiosity and driving viewership.
Released in theaters on September 5, Murderer Report stars Jo Yeo-jeong as veteran reporter Baek Sun-joo, who receives an interview request from psychiatrist Lee Young-hoon (played by Jung Sung-il), a man who claims to be a serial killer. What unfolds is a chilling psychological suspense thriller.
Theater audiences may have skipped it, but Netflix’s algorithm-driven recommendation system helped the film find new life. The platform’s ability to target viewers based on genre preference lowered the entry barrier, especially compared to the theater experience that involves time, money, and effort.
Many viewers noted that with Netflix’s monthly subscription fee being roughly the same as a movie ticket, watching from home felt like a better deal—especially for a film they might’ve been unsure about in theaters.
This new trend—“theater flop, Netflix hit”—is becoming increasingly common. Films that failed to perform at the box office are now finding redemption through streaming. Even low-budget releases like The Price of Confession recently topped Netflix globally, overtaking major titles like Kpop Demon Hunters.
In the case of Murderer Report, the combination of strong performances, a suspenseful plot, and the convenience of streaming has transformed it from an overlooked box office failure to a viral OTT success.
Sources: Daum