[HanCinema's News] "The Roundup: Punishment" eyes third straight ten million viewer record

Back in 2017, "The Outlaws" was not originally premised as a franchise film. Indeed, the second film "The Roundup" did not even maintain the same naming convention. But the Ma Dong-seok led cop film has come a long way. "The Roundup" and "The Roundup: No Way Out" both passed the ten million viewer mark. And "The Roundup: Punishment" now seems destined to do the same, with an incredible 65% reservation rating nine days ahead of its release, outpacing all of its prequels.

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Before anyone actually sees this film in theaters, it already has 130,000 early purchases. The previous franchise record at this point was only 90,000 early purchases. But the reputation of these films precedes them- the first three films on their own have a combined box office admission count of thirty million viewers, and "The Roundup: Punishment" is almost certain to boost that to well over forty million.

Ma Dong-seok recently attributed much of the success of these films their sense of action. Where the first two films were crisp, and third technically oriented, Ma Dong-seok claimed the new film would be heavier and more succinct with its physical blows. While "Exhuma" ruled the box office to date this year with its sheer innovation, neither is "The Roundup: Punishment" assuming viewers just want more of the same. "The Roundup: Punishment" will premiere in South Korean theaters on April 24th.

Written by William Schwartz