“Once We Were Us,” a romance film released on the last day of 2025, has defied expectations by taking the No. 1 spot at the local box office, winning over audiences with a relatable story of love and loss rather than flashy visual effects and action. Directed by director Kim Do-yeong, the film recorded over 1.15 million admissions, edging out the Hollywood blockbuster “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” according to data from the Korean Film Council, Tuesday. The movie also topped the overall reservation rate for the first time in 75 days for a domestic film, which is a feat not seen since “The First Ride” led the charts on Oct. 31, 2025. As a remake of the 2018 Chinese film “Us and Them,” the movie follows Eun-ho (Koo Kyo-hwan) and Jeong-won (Mun Ga-yeong), who were once deeply in love but forced to part due to the harsh realities of life. The story happens 10 years later when they meet again by accident and start to remember their past love. The film’s growing popularity appears to be driven by strong word of mouth. Viewers have praised the movie for its emotional depth because ma