‘Our Movie’ struggles with low viewership despite star power and emotional storyline
In “Our Movie,” Namkoong Min plays a film director opposite Jeon Yeo-been as an aspiring actress with a terminal illness. Courtesy of SBS
SBS’s latest weekend drama “Our Movie,” starring Namkoong Min and Jeon Yeo-been, is stuck in the 3 percent ratings range, raising questions about timing, genre appeal and audience engagement.
The drama, which centers on a terminally ill aspiring actress and a struggling filmmaker, is finding it hard to gain traction amid fierce competition and seasonal mismatch.
According to Nielsen Korea, “Our Movie” debuted with a 4.2 percent nationwide viewership but quickly dropped to 3 percent by its second episode.
As of its 10th episode, the show recorded a 3.9 percent rating, still far behind its predecessor “The Haunted Palace,” which consistently held around 9 to 10 percent.
Namkoong, known for his previous hit “My Dearest,” has taken to social media to promote the show personally. On June 15, he posted a screenshot of an article titled “'Our Movie' ranks last in ratings,” saying, “Despite the low numbers, I’m confident. Please give it attention until episode 5. If it still doesn’t improve, hold me accountable. It’ll be my responsibility.”
The drama follows Lee Jae-ha (played by Namkoong), a film director struggling with a sophomore slump, and Lee Da-eum (Jeon Yeo-been), a young woman facing a terminal diagnosis while pursuing her dream of becoming an actress.
While “Our Movie” aims to be an emotionally resonant melodrama, critics and viewers alike say its slow pacing and extended backstory explanations have made it difficult to draw new viewers.
“The early episodes spent too much time on the male lead’s family history,” said one viewer online. “It made the plot feel stagnant and hard to get into.”
Timing has also been a challenge. The show aired in June, a period dominated by high-profile releases on streaming platforms such as “Squid Game” Season 3. According to Good Data, a media analytics firm, “Squid Game 3” accounted for 46.8 percent of all buzz in the first week of July, dwarfing JTBC’s “Good Boy” at 13.3 percent.
“Our Movie” ranked fifth, trailing behind “Head over Heels” and “Law and the City.”
The seasonal mismatch may also be a factor. Melodramas that demand deep emotional immersion tend to perform better in the fall or winter.
In contrast, summer is usually the season for horror content or lighter fare. With Korea’s heat wave starting earlier than usual this year, audiences may be less inclined to engage with a heavy, emotional storyline.
Considering SBS’s history of strong weekend programming across genres, including romance, fantasy and political thrillers, the current underperformance of “Our Movie” is particularly notable given Namkoong’s prior success in the same time slot. Viewer expectations were high, and the show’s current numbers appear modest in comparison.
With the finale approaching, critics say a faster pace and tighter plot could help the show regain momentum. While Namkoong’s plea through episode five has passed, viewers are still watching to see if “Our Movie” can finish strong.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.