TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT Rides into First Place

Another week and another Hollywood franchise title rises to first place at the Korean box office. The latest entry in one of the most popular foreign series in Korea opened unopposed as temperatures began to rise across the peninsula. Ultimately, Hollywood fil...

MUMMY Beats a A DAY in Photo Finish

It was a photo finish at the Korean box office as a new local time travel thriller almost upended Tom Cruise in his second lap. However, business was down almost 25% week-on-week as admissions fell to 1.69 million. Despite not taking first place, Korean films ...

NEW TRIAL Extends Streak of Local Chart-Toppers

A new Korean film topped the chart in a weekend that was almost level with the previous week, as two thirds of tickets sold once again went to local fare, out of a total 2.22 million sold. Court drama New Trial, with KANG Ha-neul and JUNG Woo, from OPUS Pictur...

THE PRIESTS Conjures up Impressive Debut

Exorcism thriller The Priests scared up a higher than expected debut over the weekend, boosting overall business during the traditional dumping grounds of the year. 2.28 million viewers were recorded in theaters over the frame, 72% of which for local fare. Wi...

FATAL INTUTION Tops Slow Weekend

Business slowed down during the Halloween weekend, which is not considered a major event in Korea, as local thrillers held the advantage over imported fare. Korean films accounted for 56% of ticket sales out of a total 1.64 million viewers. CGV ARTHOUSE managed to debut the JOO Won-starring thriller Fatal Intuition in first place, but its 456,205 viewers (USD 3.28 million), and 628,169 admissions (USD 4.31 million) since its Thursday bow, which accounted for 28% of the marketplace, was on the low side for a first place start. A slew of mid-level thrillers released in the past few weeks may have dampened audience’s enthusiasm.

THE PHONE Rings Up First Place

A new Korean thriller has ascended to the top of the charts as local films found their footing in the wake of a short period of Hollywood dominance. In all, some 1.9 million viewers visited theaters, 57% of which for domestic fare, during the late October week...

Box Office: May 15-28, 2014

X-Men: Days of Future Past, a blockbuster from 20th Century Fox, just hit the Korean box office. This new X-Men, released on April 22nd, set a new mark for 2014 for quickest to one million admissions. X-Men topped the chart, drawing 1.45 million admissions n...