Lotte Entertainment

Sub-brand

A South Korean film and screen-content business operating under Lotte Cultureworks, with activities spanning investment, production, theatrical distribution, and international sales.

Last updated October 30, 2026

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Overview

Lotte Entertainment is a South Korean film producer and distributor operating as the motion-picture division of Lotte Cultureworks, a Lotte Group company that also operates Lotte Cinema. The business was established in September 2003 under Lotte Shopping to develop a dedicated entertainment operation covering film investment, production, domestic distribution, and international sales. Its creation gave the Lotte group a direct position in Korea's rapidly expanding commercial-film market and complemented the group's wider cinema exhibition activities. The company is commonly described as one of South Korea's major film distributors. It is often grouped with CJ ENM, Showbox, and Next Entertainment World among the country's leading theatrical distribution companies. Its activities have included financing and co-producing Korean films, acquiring and releasing domestic and foreign titles, managing theatrical distribution, and selling Korean content in overseas markets. The company has also participated in the broader Lotte entertainment ecosystem, which includes cinema exhibition and live-entertainment facilities. A notable early expansion beyond conventional film distribution was the opening of the Charlotte Theater in Seoul's Songpa District in 2006. The venue was presented as Korea's first theater dedicated exclusively to musicals, reflecting an effort to broaden the group's cultural and entertainment footprint. In 2018, Lotte Corporation separated the entertainment business from Lotte Shopping and organized it within Lotte Cultureworks. Lotte Entertainment became the film-focused division of that structure, while Lotte Cinema represented the exhibition business. Lotte Entertainment has built an international profile through distribution partnerships and participation in cross-border content networks. In early 2015, it entered a South Korean theatrical-distribution arrangement with Paramount Pictures after Paramount ended its previous relationship with CJ Entertainment. In 2016, Lotte joined Globalgate, an international film consortium led by Lionsgate, and represented the Korean and Vietnamese markets within that initiative. These relationships supported the company's role as both a local distributor of international releases and an exporter of Korean films. Its film slate has included large-scale commercial productions and genre titles. The two-part fantasy action series Along with the Gods became one of the most prominent Korean film franchises of the late 2010s, with the first installment released in 2017 and the second in 2018. The company was also associated with the 2020 zombie thriller #Alive, which achieved notable streaming exposure after becoming a leading title on Netflix in multiple international markets. In 2021, Escape from Mogadishu became the highest-grossing Korean film of that year and was selected as South Korea's submission for consideration in the international-feature-film category at the 94th Academy Awards. These releases illustrate Lotte Entertainment's combination of domestic theatrical scale, franchise-oriented filmmaking, and international distribution ambitions. Today, Lotte Entertainment remains associated with Korean theatrical film production and distribution under Lotte Cultureworks. Its business identity is tied to the Lotte group's integrated entertainment model: investment and production on one side, distribution and overseas sales on another, and cinema exhibition through the related Lotte Cinema operation. Publicly available reference material identifies the company primarily through these corporate and film-distribution functions rather than through a separately listed corporate entity.

History

Lotte Entertainment was created in September 2003 under Lotte Shopping as the Lotte group's dedicated film business. Its initial remit covered investment, production, domestic distribution, and international sales, allowing Lotte to participate directly in the Korean motion-picture industry rather than limiting its role to cinema exhibition. The business developed during a period when South Korea's commercial film sector was becoming increasingly organized around a small number of major distributors with substantial financing, marketing, and theatrical capabilities. In 2006, Lotte expanded its cultural-entertainment activities by establishing the Charlotte Theater in Seoul's Songpa District. The venue was described as Korea's first theater devoted exclusively to musicals. Although distinct from the core film-distribution operation, the theater demonstrated the broader entertainment strategy associated with the Lotte brand and helped connect film activities with live performance and cultural venues. Lotte Entertainment subsequently strengthened its role as a distributor of both Korean and foreign content. In early 2015, the company reached a theatrical-distribution agreement with Paramount Pictures for the South Korean market. The arrangement followed Paramount's termination of its previous theatrical distribution relationship with CJ Entertainment. The deal gave Lotte responsibility for bringing Paramount releases to Korean cinemas and reinforced its status as a major local distribution platform. The company also pursued international cooperation. In 2016, Lotte joined Globalgate, a consortium led by Lionsgate that was designed to support locally produced films and international remake or distribution opportunities. Lotte represented the Korean and Vietnamese markets within the consortium, linking its domestic market knowledge with a wider network of film companies. A corporate restructuring followed in 2018. Lotte Corporation spun the entertainment branch out of Lotte Shopping and organized it as Lotte Cultureworks. The new company housed both Lotte Entertainment, focused on film production and distribution, and Lotte Cinema, focused on theatrical exhibition. This structure gave Lotte a more clearly defined entertainment company while preserving the relationship between content creation, distribution, and cinema operations. Lotte's film slate has included commercially ambitious Korean productions. Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds was released in 2017, followed by Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days in 2018. Based on a popular Korean web comic, the two-part fantasy series became one of the most successful Korean film projects of its period, with the first film ranking among the country's most-watched Korean titles. In 2020, the zombie thriller #Alive gained substantial international exposure through Netflix and reached the top position on film charts in multiple countries. The company was also associated with Escape from Mogadishu, released in 2021. The film became the year's highest-grossing Korean movie and was selected as South Korea's contender for the 2022 Academy Awards cycle. Lotte Entertainment is therefore best understood as the film-focused content division within Lotte Cultureworks rather than as an independently listed company. Its activities span development and investment, production and co-production, Korean theatrical distribution, foreign-film distribution arrangements, and international sales. Its relationship with Lotte Cinema gives the wider group an integrated position across film supply and exhibition, while partnerships such as Paramount distribution and Globalgate participation have extended the business beyond the domestic Korean market.

2024
Badland Hunters reached international Netflix charts
[1]Lotte Entertainment — official company profilelotteent.com
Lotte’s profile reported that the film appeared on Netflix’s Top 10 list in more than 80 countries.
2023
Concrete Utopia was released
[1]Lotte Entertainment — official company profilelotteent.com
The film was selected as South Korea’s official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
2021
Escape from Mogadishu was released
[1]Lotte Entertainment — official company profilelotteent.com
The film became one of Lotte Entertainment’s internationally prominent releases and was selected as South Korea’s official Oscar submission for that year.
2020
#Alive gained international streaming visibility
[1]Lotte Entertainment — official company profilelotteent.com
Lotte’s company profile reports that the film reached the top position on Netflix daily charts in 35 countries.
2019
Television-series production was added to the content strategy
[1]Lotte Entertainment — official company profilelotteent.com
Lotte Entertainment says it launched a television-series production studio, expanding its screen-content activity beyond theatrical films.
2018
Lotte Cultureworks was launched as a separate affiliate
[5]Korea’s Lotte Group launches Cultureworks to house cinema operationsscreendaily.com
Lotte Cinema and Lotte Entertainment became separate brands within Lotte Cultureworks, bringing Lotte’s exhibition and film businesses into a dedicated affiliate.
2018
Lotte ranked first among Korean film distributors
[7]KOFIC Publishes 2018 Korean Film Industry Reportkoreanfilm.or.kr
The Korean Film Council reported that Lotte held the highest distributor share by admissions in South Korea for 2018.
2017
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds became a major commercial hit
[1]Lotte Entertainment — official company profilelotteent.com
The first film in the fantasy series became Lotte Entertainment’s best-selling title at the time, according to the company’s profile.
2015
Paramount appointed Lotte as its South Korean film distributor
[6]Paramount, Lotte cut South Korea dealscreendaily.com
A long-term distribution arrangement gave Lotte responsibility for Paramount films released in South Korea, beginning with Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
2003
Lotte Entertainment was established
[10]Lotte Entertainment was establishedkoreanfilm.org
Lotte Entertainment began operating as Lotte’s film investment and distribution business, later expanding into production and international sales.
1999
Lotte’s cinema business began
[3]Lotte Cultureworks company informationlotte-hd.com
Lotte Cultureworks traces its origins to the cinema business division established under Lotte Shopping in September 1999, the exhibition business that later complemented Lotte Entertainment.

Products and positioning

A major South Korean commercial-film investor and distributor combining domestic theatrical reach with production, international sales, selected foreign-film distribution, and expanded screen-content development.

Film business · 2003
Film investment and co-financing
Lotte Entertainment invests in and helps finance Korean feature films, including projects developed with production partners. Investment is a core part of its integrated film-business role and is paired with distribution and, in some cases, production activity. Its slate has included large commercial releases as well as smaller and independent titles.
Film distribution · 2003
Korean theatrical film distribution
The brand distributes Korean films to domestic theatrical audiences, handling releases across genres such as action, drama, comedy, thriller, and fantasy. Its catalogue includes Along with the Gods, Escape from Mogadishu, Miracle: Letters to the President, and Hansan: Rising Dragon. Lotte Cinema’s exhibition business is a sister brand within Lotte Cultureworks rather than the same product line.
International distribution
International film sales
Lotte Entertainment markets and sells selected Korean film rights to overseas territories. The activity supports the circulation of Korean productions beyond their domestic theatrical windows and complements the company’s investment and distribution work. Its official company profile lists international sales among its operating areas.
Film distribution · 2015
Foreign-film distribution in South Korea
Lotte has released selected foreign films in South Korea, including major studio titles. Its 2015 distribution pact with Paramount expanded this activity, giving Lotte responsibility for Paramount’s South Korean theatrical slate at that time.
Television content · 2019
Television-series production
Lotte Entertainment reports that it launched a television-series production studio in 2019. This broadened the brand’s screen-content ambitions beyond theatrical movies, within the wider Lotte Cultureworks portfolio of entertainment activities.
Feature-film franchise · 2017
Along with the Gods film series
The two-part fantasy film series comprises Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018). The films were among Lotte Entertainment’s most successful releases and helped establish the company as a distributor of large-scale Korean commercial cinema. The company credits the series with major audience records and identifies the first film as a leading title in its catalogue.
Feature film · 2021
Escape from Mogadishu
Released in 2021, this action-drama follows South and North Korean diplomats attempting to escape the Somali Civil War. The film became one of Lotte’s most internationally visible releases and was selected as South Korea’s official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Feature film · 2023
Concrete Utopia
Released in 2023, this Korean disaster drama is among Lotte Entertainment’s high-profile recent films. It was selected as South Korea’s official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, extending the company’s record of handling titles with international awards visibility.
Feature film · 2020
#Alive
This 2020 Korean survival thriller became a notable international streaming title. Lotte Entertainment’s profile reports that it topped Netflix daily charts in 35 countries and was the first Korean film to reach the top of the service’s worldwide movie chart.
Feature film · 2024
Badland Hunters
The 2024 action film is one of Lotte Entertainment’s internationally promoted releases. The company reports that it reached Netflix’s Top 10 list in more than 80 countries and became the service’s most-watched non-English film of the week.
Feature film · 2017
Midnight Runners
This Korean buddy-cop comedy was a major Lotte-distributed hit in 2017. Korean Film Council coverage identifies it as one of the releases that contributed to the distributor’s strong performance ahead of the success of Along with the Gods.
Feature film · 2020
Samjin Company English Class
Released in 2020, this comedy-drama is part of Lotte Entertainment’s Korean film catalogue. It illustrates the range of the company’s slate beyond action and fantasy, with a workplace story rooted in the experiences of women employees at a Korean company.

Controversies

2018
Backlash over a sexually offensive Wrestler promotional post
A social-media promotion for Wrestler used language suggesting that a film still featuring actress Lee Sung-kyung was a leaked photograph. Critics objected that the joke echoed real harms involving non-consensual image leaks, and Lotte Entertainment apologized. Available reporting establishes a public-relations controversy, not a separate legal finding.
Source

2018Wrestler social-media promotion
South Korea
Lotte Entertainment promoted Wrestler using a still of actress Lee Sung-kyung accompanied by copy that presented the image as a leaked photograph. The post attracted criticism for sexualizing the image and trivializing the harm of online image leaks.
Outcome. Lotte Entertainment apologized after the backlash. The promotion is documented as a marketing controversy.
Source

Brand decisions

2019
Expand into television-series productionStrategy
Background
Lotte Entertainment sought to broaden its screen-content activities beyond feature films.
Action taken
The company reports launching a television-series production studio in 2019.
Aftermath
The move extended the brand’s stated content scope while film investment, distribution, production, and international sales remained core activities.
Source
2018
Move the cinema and film businesses into Lotte CultureworksStrategy
Background
Lotte reorganized its cinema exhibition, film investment, and distribution operations, which had been under Lotte Shopping, into a dedicated affiliate.
Action taken
Lotte Cultureworks began operating on June 1, 2018, with Lotte Cinema and Lotte Entertainment retained as separate brands under the new company.
Aftermath
The change established Lotte Cultureworks as the corporate home for the two brands without changing Lotte Entertainment’s 2003 founding date.
Source
2015
Take on South Korean distribution of Paramount Pictures filmsStrategy
Background
Paramount selected Lotte Entertainment as its South Korean distributor under a long-term arrangement, replacing CJ E&M as its local partner.
Action taken
Lotte handled Paramount’s South Korean theatrical releases, with the arrangement beginning with Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
Aftermath
The agreement broadened Lotte’s role in distributing major imported studio films in South Korea.
Source

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