Director Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie thriller Colony continues to dominate theaters across Asia, setting new box office records in multiple territories while surpassing 5 million admissions in South Korea. The film has emerged as one of the biggest Korean theatrical success stories of 2026, reinforcing the enduring popularity of Korean genre cinema across the region.
According to distributor Showbox, Colony has attracted 1,511,802 admissions in Malaysia as of Sunday, making it the most-watched Korean film ever released in the country. The achievement is particularly notable because it means Yeon Sang-ho now occupies the top three positions among Korean films in the Malaysian market. His 2016 zombie blockbuster Train to Busan ranks second, while its standalone sequel Peninsula sits in third place.
The film’s success extends well beyond Malaysia. In Indonesia, Colony has attracted 1,062,394 admissions, making it the second most-watched Korean film in the country’s history. The zombie thriller has also become the second most-watched Korean film ever released in the Philippines, where it has recorded 347,438 admissions. Elsewhere in the region, the film has ranked among the five most-watched Korean films of all time in Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
The strong international performance comes as Colony continues to lead the domestic box office in South Korea. Earlier this week, Colony was featured alongside Chinese blockbuster Dear You as both films continued to power the Asian box office, highlighting the growing strength of regional cinema in theatrical markets across Asia.
On its home turf, Colony crossed the significant milestone of 5 million admissions during the weekend. The film added 301,053 admissions over the latest frame, bringing its cumulative total to 5,212,824 admissions. It has now spent four consecutive weekends atop the South Korean box office, making it one of the year’s most dominant theatrical performers.
The achievement also places Colony among a select group of major Korean hits released in 2026. It is only the second film this year to surpass the 5 million admissions mark, following the historical drama The King’s Warden. The latest weekend chart saw Colony comfortably maintain its lead ahead of Korean comedy Wild Sing, which attracted 205,100 admissions, while Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day debuted in third place with 112,388 admissions.
The film marks Yeon Sang-ho’s latest return to the zombie genre that helped establish his international reputation. Widely regarded as one of the most influential modern zombie filmmakers, Yeon first gained global recognition with Train to Busan, which became a worldwide phenomenon and introduced many international audiences to contemporary Korean genre cinema.
Colony follows biotechnology professor Se-jeong, played by Jun Ji-hyun, and a group of survivors trapped inside a building after a devastating virus outbreak. As they struggle to escape, they encounter increasingly dangerous infected creatures and a mysterious researcher portrayed by Koo Kyo-hwan, who possesses an unusual ability to control zombies. The film also stars Ji Chang-wook and Kim Shin-rok as survivors attempting to navigate the escalating crisis.
The combination of Yeon’s reputation, a star-studded cast led by Jun Ji-hyun, and the continued popularity of zombie storytelling has helped transform Colony into a major theatrical event across Asia. The film’s large-scale action sequences and evolving approach to zombie mythology have proven particularly appealing to audiences.
While the box office numbers have been overwhelmingly positive, international critical reactions have been somewhat more mixed. Several reviewers have praised the film’s ambitious action set pieces, visual scale, and innovative hive-mind zombie concept. However, some critics have argued that Colony does not quite reach the emotional heights of Train to Busan, which remains widely regarded as Yeon’s defining work. Even so, the mixed critical response has done little to slow audience enthusiasm.
Colony has demonstrated the continued global appeal of Korean genre filmmaking. The film’s success shows that audiences remain eager for large-scale theatrical experiences that combine action, suspense, and high-concept storytelling. It also highlights the growing influence of Korean cinema across Asia, where local productions are increasingly competing with and outperforming major Hollywood releases.
Nearly a decade after Train to Busan became an international breakout hit, the Yeon Sang-ho has once again delivered a zombie thriller with Colony, that is capturing audiences on a massive scale. With more than 5.2 million admissions in South Korea and records continuing to fall across Southeast Asia, Colony has established itself as one of the year’s biggest regional box office success stories. Whether it ultimately surpasses some of Yeon’s previous achievements remains to be seen, but its impact across Asia is already undeniable.
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