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Movie screenplays are shifting from niche collector items into mainstream publishing hits, driven by a surge in demand for physical movie merchandise and fan-driven book sales. According to data from Kyobo Book Centre, sales of screenplay books jumped 85.5% between January and July compared to the same period last year, with 78 distinct titles published during those seven months alone, surpassing the 53 total releases recorded over the entirety of the previous year.
The format’s commercial momentum reflects a broader change in how audiences consume and collect cinema. Major publishing houses are entering a market historically dominated by crowdfunding campaigns and specialized independent presses. Industry data shows that blockbuster titles, such as the screenplay for the film 왕과 사는 남자—which drew large audiences in South Korea—have heavily influenced overall category sales, functioning primarily as high-value physical goods for dedicated fans.
Major Publishers Expand Into Screenplay Editions
General trade publishers are increasingly acquiring rights to film and television scripts ahead of theatrical releases. Woongjin Knowledge House secured the publishing rights for Christopher Nolan’s screenplay for Oppenheimer before its premiere, noting that the title topped arts and culture bestseller lists despite being a foreign release. Min-kyung Lee, an editor at Woongjin, stated that the company moved forward with the project after observing sufficient domestic fandom and name recognition for the director.
Other established publishers are following suit. Eulyu Publishing released a nine-part box set featuring screenplays by director Park Chan-wook, including the script for 왕과 사는 남자. According to Eulyu, the 왕과 사는 남자 screenplay collection has sold over 80,000 copies, making it the top-selling screenplay title on record for the publisher. Kyong-min Kim, an editor at Eulyu, noted that screenplays perform well when films feature distinct emotional resonance and memorable dialogue that audiences want to revisit in print.
Television and Streaming Series Find a Print Audience
Publishers are also targeting serialized television projects, focusing on hit streaming shows with strong dialogue and devoted fanbases. Gimmyoung Publishers operates a dedicated team focused exclusively on script books. The publisher has released 12 television script collections, including Netflix’s historical zombie series 킹덤, along with popular drama series like 우리들의 여름 and 특별한 변호사 우영우. Representatives for the company stated that print runs are evaluated based on online buzz, strong character dialogue, and the potential for a series to generate widespread cultural fascination.
Despite the recent sales growth, industry professionals caution against viewing screenplays as a newly established mass-market literary genre. Chang-moon Choi, an editorial team leader at the publisher Dongasia, noted that while a handful of titles have achieved strong commercial success, it remains premature to declare a broad industry-wide expansion for the format as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are screenplay books growing in popularity? According to publishing industry sources, fans increasingly purchase screenplays as physical merchandise or collectible goods to extend their connection to a film or television series.
- Which screenplay holds the record for highest sales?
- Are television series scripts also being published? Yes, publishers such as Gimmyoung maintain dedicated editorial teams that release script books for popular streaming and television series, including 특별한 변호사 우영우 and 킹덤.