A new Hollywood tentpole and a pair of local releases gave the Korean box office a 40% boost over the weekend. The new films changed up the stagnating charts and lifted admissions to 570,000, with 14% of those going to domestic films.
Taking first was the monster movie blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong, which easily claimed the crown with 286,000 sales (USD 2.46 million). The film has filled 325,000 seats (USD 2.79 million) over its first four days.
Slowing just 7% over its ninth weekend was the hit Japanese animation Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train, which welcomed 88,000 viewers (USD 737,000), thereby boosting its haul to 1.48 million admissions (USD 12.62 million).
Losing just over half its audience and down two spots after three weekend wins was the Korean-American indie drama Minari. The award-winning film clinched another 64,000 entries (USD 536,000), with 817,000 tickets (USD 6.56 million) sold to date.
Debuting in fourth place was the local music drama The Box, with brought in 36,000 spectators (USD 259,000) over the weekend, with 76,000 sales (USD 550,000) counted over five days.
Opening in fifth was the local horror Hypnosis (translated title), which scared up 26,000 moviegoers (USD 212,000) over the three-day and was seen by 37,000 viewers (USD 298,000) since its Wednesday launch.
While Godzilla vs. Kong should still have some fight left in it, this weekend will likely welcome a new champion as LEE Joon-ik’s period drama The Book of Fish, with SUL Kyung-gu and BYUN Yo-han, is scheduled to open on Wednesday.