Forbidden Fairytale
{{short description|2025 South Korean drama film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Forbidden Fairytale
| image = Forbidden Fairytale film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Korean film name
| hangul = 동화지만 청불입니다
| rr = Donghwajiman cheongburimnida
| lk = It's a fairy tale, but it's paid}}
| director = Lee Jong-seok
| producer =
| screenplay =
| based_on =
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| music =
| cinematography =
| editing =
| studio = {{ubl|Golddog Entertainment Co., Ltd.| Soojak Film Co., Ltd.}}
| distributor = {{ubl|Special Movie City| Media Can|Barunson E&A}}
| released = {{film date|2025|1|8|df=y}}
| runtime = 109 minutes
| country = South Korea
| language = Korean
| budget =
| gross = {{US$}}1.1 million{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/boxOffice_Yearly.jsp?mode=BOXOFFICE_YEAR&selectDt=2025&category=ALL&country=K|title=KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2025|work=KOFIC|access-date=January 22, 2025}}
}}
Forbidden Fairytale ({{korean|동화지만 청불입니다}}) is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Lee Jong-seok and starring Park Ji-hyun as Danbi. It follows Danbi, who dreams of being a children's book writer but is in reality a rookie on the illegal pornography crackdown team. It also stars Choi Si-won and Sung Dong-il in pivotal roles.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/117/0003893901 |script-title=ko:박지현, 19금 재능 터졌다…"왜 이런 데서" [동화지만 청불입니다] |trans-title=Park Ji-hyun, 19+ talent exploded... "Why in a place like this" [Fairy tale but payment] |author=Kim Ji-woo |work={{ill|MyDaily|ko|마이데일리}} |publisher=Naver|date= December 9, 2024|access-date=December 9, 2024|language=ko}}
It was released in South Korea on 8 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/003/0012931753 |script-title=ko:19금 웹소설 쓰는 박지현 '동화지만 청불입니다' 내년 1월 개봉|trans-title=Park Ji-hyun, who writes 19+ web novels, 'A Fairy Tale, but It's Paid' to be released in January next year |author=Jeon Jae-kyung |work=Newsis |publisher=Naver|date= November 29, 2024|access-date=December 9, 2024|language=ko}}
Synopsis
During the day, Dan-bi works on the youth protection team, reviewing endless streams of adult content. At night, she pours her creativity into writing for a fairy tale competition. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally damages the vintage car of a CEO who runs an adult web novel publishing company. To repay him, she reluctantly agrees to write adult fiction each evening. However, this arrangement doesn't last long as Dan-bi's distinctive storytelling style breathes life into the sexual fantasies of three friends, quickly turning her into an overnight sensation. Meanwhile, her captivating stories spark an unexpected awakening in her colleague, Jung-seok, who has struggled with sexual dysfunction for years.
Cast
- Park Ji-hyun as Danbi
- Choi Si-won as Jeong-seok
- Sung Dong-il as Representative Hwang
Production
Principal photography began on 20 May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/new-movie-forbidden-fairytale-175423.html |title= [New Movie] "Forbidden Fairytale"|work= HanCinema|publisher=HanCinema|date= February 24, 2024|access-date=December 9, 2024|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/mast/mvie/findOpenScheduleList.do|title=KOFIC, KOBIS, Forbidden Fairytale: Crank in/up|work=KOFIC|access-date=December 9, 2024}} By March 2024, the film had entered its post-production phase.
Release
Forbidden Fairytale premiered in South Korean theaters on 8 January 2025 released by Media Can.{{cite web|url=http://m.breaknews.com/1074373 |script-title=ko:박지현·최시원·성동일 '동화지만 청불입니다', 내년 1월 8일 개봉 확정 '관심↑'|trans-title=Park Ji-hyun, Choi Si-won, Sung Dong-il 'A Fairy Tale But It's Paid', confirmed for release on January 8th next year 'Interest↑' |author=Park Dong-je |work= Break News|date= November 28, 2024|access-date=December 9, 2024|language=ko}}
Barunson E&A has purchased the marketing rights of the film for overseas sales in March 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/barunson-eanda-boards-korean-sex-comedy-forbidden-fairytale-exclusive/5191425.article |title=Barunson E&A boards Korean sex comedy 'Forbidden Fairytale' (exclusive) |first= Michael |last= Rosser |date=March 12, 2024 |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=ScreenDaily|language=en}}
Reception
=Box office=
The film was released on January 8, 2025 on 668 screens.{{cite web|url= https://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/mobile/main/findDailyBoxOfficeList.do|title= Daily Box Office|access-date= January 9, 2025|work= KOBIS|language= ko}} It opened at first place among new releases with 23,430 running audiences.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/609/0000940484 |script-title=ko:박지현 2연속 19금 '청불입니다' 신작 중 1위로 출발[박스오피스]|trans-title=Park Ji-hyun's 2nd consecutive 19+ 'It's Blue' starts off at #1 among new releases [Box Office] |author=Bae Hyo-joo |work= Newsen|publisher=Naver |date= January 9, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|language=ko}} During its opening weekend, the film ranked third, drawing 65,568 viewers and achieving a cumulative total of 101,770 viewers.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/241/0003407095 |script-title=ko:'하얼빈', 3주차 주말에도 정상 '굳건'…박지현 '동화지만 청불입니다' 3위 출발 [차트IS] |trans-title='Harbin', solidly on top for the 3rd weekend... Park Ji-hyun's 'Fairy Tale But It's Payment' starts in 3rd place [ChartIS] |author=Jang Ju-yeon |work=Daily Sports|publisher=Naver |date= January 13, 2025|access-date=January 13, 2025|language=ko}}
{{As of|2025|1|27|df=US|}}, the film has grossed {{USD|1,069,672}} from 165,719 admissions.
=Critical response=
Ryu Ji-yoon writing for Dailyan appreciated the visual presentation of the adult web novels. She praised the portrayal of Danbi by Park Ji-hyun, writing, "her stable acting stands out, as Danbi's emotions do not stray into extreme sadness or despair, but rather lead to internal maturity". Ryu Ji-yoon found the end boring but again she opined that Park Ji-hyun's as Danbi and "her determination to liberate her emotions and passion for creation and take a new path stands out".{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/119/0002911591 |script-title=ko:발칙해서 귀여운 '동화지만 청불입니다' [볼 만해?] |trans-title=Cheeky and cute 'It's a fairy tale, but it's worth watching' [Is it worth watching?] |author=Ryu Ji-yoon |work=Dailyan|publisher=Naver |date= January 8, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|language=ko}}
References
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