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Showbox
Showbox Co., Ltd. (쇼박스) is one of South Korea's four major film distribution companies, founded in 1999 as the entertainment and film division of Mediaplex, a subsidiary of the Orion Group. Headquartered in Gangnam, Seoul, Showbox operates across investment, production, and distribution, competing directly with CJ ENM, Lotte Entertainment, and NEW for theatrical market share in one of the world's most cinema-going nations.
Showbox built its reputation on prestige commercial cinema. The company distributed Park Chan-wook's revenge trilogy, co-produced Bong Joon-ho's early work, and released The Handmaiden (2016), which took the Cannes Jury Prize and earned global arthouse acclaim. Other landmark titles include The Thieves (2012) and Parasite-era releases that positioned Showbox as a brand synonymous with quality Korean genre filmmaking.
In 2024, Showbox distributed The Firefighters (소방관), a disaster drama directed by Kwak Gyeong-taek that opened atop the Korean box office despite critical controversy. The film drew over 3.85 million admissions and became one of the year's highest-performing local releases. Showbox closed 2025 with Once We Were Us (만약에 우리), a romantic drama starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Mun Ga-young, released December 31, 2025. The film exceeded expectations, drawing 2.6 million viewers through January 2026 and briefly dethroning Avatar in the Korean box office.
Showbox's portfolio strategy balances blockbuster spectacle with narrative-driven prestige fare, giving the company flexibility in competitive seasons. It maintains an active international sales arm and continues to co-produce premium Korean content for global distribution.
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Fans Also Ask
What movies has Showbox distributed?
Showbox has distributed some of South Korea's most celebrated films, including The Handmaiden (2016, Park Chan-wook, Cannes Jury Prize), The Thieves (2012), The Firefighters (2024, 3.85M admissions), and Once We Were Us (2025, 2.6M viewers). The company co-invested in multiple Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook productions.
When was Showbox founded?
Showbox was founded in 1999 as the film investment, production, and distribution arm of Mediaplex, Inc., which is itself a subsidiary of the Orion Group. It is headquartered in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and is considered one of the four major Korean film distributors alongside CJ ENM, Lotte Entertainment, and NEW.
Is Showbox related to Netflix?
Showbox is not owned by Netflix. It operates as an independent Korean distributor under the Orion Group conglomerate. However, some Showbox-distributed titles have reached Netflix after their theatrical runs, including Once We Were Us. Showbox maintains its own international co-production and sales pipeline.
What was Showbox's biggest 2025 release?
Once We Were Us (만약에 우리), released December 31, 2025, was Showbox's standout late-year title. Starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Mun Ga-young, the romantic drama drew 2.6 million viewers through January 2026 and briefly overtook Avatar at the Korean box office, described by Showbox as the strongest pure melodrama audience response in years.
How many films has Showbox released?
Showbox has been active since 1999 and has distributed hundreds of Korean films. It consistently ranks among Korea's top three distributors by annual admissions, with a portfolio spanning horror, romance, action, and prestige drama. The company also invests in international co-productions and selective arthouse titles.
