Scream Report’s Verdicts desk doesn't just watch; we score. And today, the numbers on the scoreboard are telling a specific story about Mnet’s Sumbakkokjil 2. The second player, NCT WISH, has officially entered the arena, following in the footsteps of the first player, CORTIS. With the show having launched in late July 2026, the stakes are no longer about novelty; they are about retention. The core format remains rigid: a 4,444-second horror game. That specific duration is the show's fingerprint, and it is the metric by which we judge whether the series is holding its audience.
The Numbers Behind the Hype
The release of the NCT WISH episodes (Full VOD 6-1 and 6-2) hit Mnet Plus on October 16, 2026. New episodes continue to air on Fridays at 6 PM KST. For a streaming platform, the consistency of the schedule is the real box office metric. We are not just looking at the idols; we are looking at the retention curve. If the first player, CORTIS, set the baseline, NCT WISH is the test of whether the 4,444-second format can sustain interest beyond the initial star power of the debut player.
Our stance is clear: the show is working, but it is not perfect. The shift from CORTIS to NCT WISH is a strategic pivot. The 4,444-second constraint is a bold creative choice that differentiates this from standard horror series. However, the execution relies heavily on the platform's ability to deliver the full VOD episodes seamlessly. The score reflects a solid performance that earns its place on the Scream Scale, though it lacks the shocking peak of a 9+ experience.
For the horror community, this is a data point. Mnet and Mnet Plus are testing the waters of idol-driven horror. The October 16 release date was chosen to capitalize on the momentum from the July launch. We give it a 7.2. It is a strong entry in the genre, but the format is repetitive enough to warrant a deduction. The game is on.
Comments (4)