Song Hye Kyo: Two Decades of Struggles in Film
Song Hye Kyo, a household name in Asian entertainment, has long been recognized for her iconic roles in popular Korean dramas. Her performances in timeless hits such as Autumn in My Heart (2000) and Full House (2004) made her a beloved figure across Asia. However, despite her immense popularity and stunning beauty, the South Korean actress has struggled to find success on the big screen.
A Promising Start in Film
After rising to fame in television, Song Hye Kyo made her debut in film with My Girl and I (2005), a romantic drama co-starring Cha Tae Hyun. While it was widely anticipated and had a significant release across South Korea, the film only grossed $2.3 million, a disappointing result given her TV success.
Struggles to Break into Film
Despite this initial setback, Song Hye Kyo didn’t give up on her film career. In 2007, she starred in Hwang Jin Yi, a historical drama about a famous courtesan. While her portrayal of the title character was visually stunning, the film’s commercial performance was underwhelming, grossing just $8.5 million.
In 2011, Song Hye Kyo appeared in the Hollywood film Fetish, which involved numerous explicit scenes. However, the film’s release was delayed for two years, and when it finally hit theaters, it struggled to find an audience. To make matters worse, the actress faced further controversy when fake intimate videos exploiting her role were circulated online.
Continued Struggles and International Projects
The years that followed saw Song Hye Kyo continue to face challenges in film. The Reason to Live (2011), a movie in which she starred alongside Nam Ji Hyun, earned a meager $365,000, which was far below expectations for an actress of her stature. Even in 2014, her collaboration with Kang Dong Won in My Brilliant Life only generated $11.7 million at the box office—an amount that, while slightly better, still paled in comparison to the actress’s television earnings.
Her ventures in Chinese cinema, including The Queens (2015) and The Fateful Train (2015), did not fare much better. While The Fateful Train grossed $40.4 million across two installments, it failed to recover its production costs. In The Grandmaster (2013), Song Hye Kyo appeared in a supporting role, with the spotlight largely on co-stars Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi.
A Decade-long Hiatus
Following The Fateful Train 2 in 2015, Song Hye Kyo took a ten-year break from film, focusing instead on television projects. Her television career continued to thrive, and she recently garnered critical acclaim for her role in the hit series The Glory (2022–2023), in which she portrayed the vengeful Moon Dong Eun.
The Comeback: Dark Nuns
In 2025, Song Hye Kyo is set to return to the big screen with Dark Nuns (Korean title: Nữ tu bóng tối), a film that has already generated significant buzz. The actress, now 43, has put considerable effort into preparing for her role, undergoing intense physical and emotional transformation to embody the character of Junia. With the success of The Glory and heightened expectations, many are hopeful that Dark Nuns will finally bring Song Hye Kyo the box office success she has longed for.
However, early reviews of Dark Nuns have been mixed, with some criticizing the narrative structure and pacing. Despite the promising pre-release ticket sales, there are concerns that the film may not live up to expectations. As the movie officially premieres in South Korea on January 24, 2025, and in Vietnam on February 21, 2025, the world is watching to see whether this film will mark a turning point in Song Hye Kyo’s film career.
Conclusion
While Song Hye Kyo has earned her place as one of Asia’s most beloved stars, her journey in film has been fraught with challenges. Despite her immense popularity and talent, the commercial success she enjoyed on television has not translated to the big screen. As she makes her long-awaited return to film with Dark Nuns, it remains to be seen whether she will finally break her streak of cinematic misfortunes and achieve the success many believe she deserves.
