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| "My Daughter is a Zombie" |
Yesterday afternoon, I went to see "My Daughter is a Zombie" with two students I'm teaching Korean. The reviews had already been positive, and the film was a box office hit in Korea, so I went with high expectations. Jo Jung-seok delivered an unquestionably outstanding performance, and the supporting cast was equally impressive. The standout was Choi Yu-ri, who played the daughter. Despite her young age, she delivered a flawless performance, and her future is highly anticipated. Jo Jung-seok, who recently announced the news of his wife, Gummy, being pregnant with their second child, already has a five-year-old daughter, and he delivered a masterful portrayal of fatherly love. The line, "How can a parent give up on their child?" was particularly captivating, perfectly summing up the film in one line.
I dislike zombie films, but I liked the cast of "Train to Busan", so I watched it. This film was easier to watch because it was more lighthearted. While it features zombies, it's portrayed with a lighter touch, and because it's closer to comedy, it portrays the dystopian situation humorously, making it easy to watch. It blends various genres and effectively embodies the elements of Korean films and dramas. So, it's hard to call it a mere comedy; the genre lines are vague, but the balance is so perfect that there's never a dull moment. The fact that Jo Jung-seok happens to be an animal trainer suggests that this film is already determined to be funny.
Compared to other genres, I get nervous watching comedies as movies or dramas. This is because subtitles play a particularly crucial role in comedies. While slapstick comedy might be fine, these days, wordplay is the key to humor, so poor subtitles can make it difficult to understand the intended humor. However, this film's subtitles are quite well-crafted, and while I don't know about other languages, I think they're at least well-crafted enough to be watched with English subtitles.
Basic Information
Title: "My Daughter Is a Zombie"
Release Date: July 30, 2025
Director and Screenwriter: Pil Gam-sung
Based on: Lee Yoon-chang's Naver webtoon "My Daughter Is a Zombie"
Running Time: Approximately 113 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Human Drama (Comedy Horror, Family-Oriented Message)
Main Cast
Jo Jung-seok: Father 'Lee Jung-hwan' (a former tiger trainer struggling to protect his daughter Su-ah)
Choi Yu-ri: Daughter 'Lee Su-ah' (who has become a zombie but still retains warm feelings)
Lee Jung-eun: Jung-hwan's mother 'Kim Bam-soon'
Jo Yeo-jeong and Yoon Kyung-ho: Key supporting roles as Shin Yeon-hwa and Jo Dong-bae, respectively
Plot Summary
In a world overrun by a zombie virus, former tiger trainer Jeong-hwan (Jo Jung-seok) hides his daughter, Soo-ah (Choi Yu-ri), the sole zombie survivor. To protect her, he goes into hiding in the secluded village where her grandmother lives.
This heartwarming comedy and touching drama follows a father who embarks on top-secret training to ensure his daughter retains her humanity in a hostile world.
This family film humorously yet earnestly conveys messages about fatherly love and humanity through the medium of the zombie genre.
Box Office Performance and Reaction
- First-Day Audience Numbers Surpass "Mission: Impossible" and Set Record
- Only one day after its release in Korea, "Mission: Impossible" surpassed "Mission: Impossible" to set a new opening-day audience record.
- Over 1.45 million viewers in just four days. It quickly became a box office hit, generating explosive reactions.
- First Korean film to surpass 4 million viewers in 2025
- Ranked first at the box office for 12 consecutive days immediately after its release, becoming the first Korean film to surpass 4 million viewers in 2025.
- Ranked first at the box office for 12 consecutive days
- More than 3 million viewers in total, attracting 840,000 viewers over the weekend.
- Global reviews were also positive. Forbes and other international media outlets praised the film, calling it "a comedy that humorously portrays the frightening emotions of parents."
Why did it become a box office success?
A unique fusion of genres: a unique blend of zombies, comedy, and human drama. The Power of Fatherly Love and Family: A "father and daughter" story rich in emotional turning points that resonates with the public.
Original Work Fanbase + Comedic Sensibility: Embracing the expectations of webtoon fans and a broad range of public sentiment.
Paceful Story Development: Quickly delivers humor and emotion, engaging audiences.
Powerful Word-of-Mouth Effect: Rapid box office success based on favorable reviews and strong social media buzz, further strengthening the box office synergy.
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| Original Webtoon "My Daughter is a Zombie" |
Key Differences between the Original Webtoon and the Movie
1. Mood and Tone
Webtoon: Strong black comedy, yet embodies the heartwarming emotions of fatherly and familial love. With numerous gags and parodies, it resembles a comical, everyday drama and social satire.
Film: To secure popularity, the film significantly increases the proportion of comedy and human drama, while reducing horror elements. The strong family-centered, touching tone broadens the audience.
2. Character Changes
Dad (Jeong-hwan)
Webtoon: An ordinary father and working-class man. He portrays both sincerity and humor amidst his struggles.
Film: The addition of a former tiger tamer adds action and comedic elements. The character is dramatized more dramatically.
Daughter (Soo-ah)
Webtoon: A cute and gentle zombie girl from beginning to end. Her struggle to adapt to society conveys paternal love and a social message.
Film: The zombie daughter's struggle to maintain her humanity is emphasized, and the story of her training and adaptation with her father becomes a core storyline.
Supporting Cast
Webtoon: A satirical portrayal of diverse, everyday characters, including family and neighbors.
Film: A condensed narrative centered around the maternal grandmother (Lee Jung-eun) and mother (Jo Yeo-jeong) enhances the emotional arc.
3. Story Development
Webtoon:
Episode-based narrative (each episode is self-contained yet forms a cohesive narrative).
The film features diverse incidents and social satire, offering a broad spectrum of humor and satire.
Film:
Condensed to a running time of approximately 113 minutes, focusing on the main characters' family. The webtoon's trope-like elements and social satire are omitted, focusing instead on the conflict, reconciliation, and growth of a father and daughter.
4. Genre Differentiation
Webtoon: A daily comedy + satire based on a zombie film. The zombies serve as a metaphor for "social misfits."
Film: A family film emphasizing comedic and dramatic emotion. The zombies serve as a narrative device and a backdrop for dramatic tension.
While discussing this film with my students in class, they learned that it was released in the US and other countries where they live. Being a Korean film, I assumed it wouldn't be released in other countries, but seeing it released in so many more countries than I expected really made me realize how much the world has changed. If you happen to see this film at a theater near you, I highly recommend seeing it. It's a zombie film, but I think even children can enjoy it with an adult. If it's already too late, wait until it's released on an OTT platform.
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