For the first, since the Chuseok holidays in late September, local films captured a majority share of the market, accounting for 56% of all tickets sold. Overall admissions saw a nominal rise to 809,000 sales compared to the previous weekend.

The high concept action-thriller Spiritwalker with Yoon Kyesang topped the box office during its debut, with 249,000 seats (USD 2.16 million) filled over the weekend and a total of 362,000 sales (USD 2.96 million) counted over its first five days. The Yoon Jaekeun film, which has already been optioned for a US remake, has received mostly positive notices, but it will have to contend with heavy competition going forward. 

Disney’s latest animation Encanto opened in second place with 203,000 admissions (USD 1.69 million) counted over the weekend. 269,000 viewers (USD 2.15 million) have caught the film since its Wednesday debut.

Indie director Jeong Gayoung’s commercial debut Nothing Serious, a romantic comedy with Jun Jongseo and Son Sukku, opened in third with 141,000 spectators (USD 1.27 million) over the weekend and 209,000 entries (USD 1.77 million) to date. The film has gained very positive reviews and audience scores, but its low start does not augur well for its future prospects.

The Marvel tentpole Eternals dipped a hefty 71% during its third weekend on the charts but with another 64,000 sales (USD 549,000) banked over the weekend, the film has now eclipsed Black Widow to become the top-selling foreign film of the year at the Korean box office, with 2.98 million admissions (USD 26.03 million). It trails only Escape from Mogadishu on the overall chart.

Cho Eunji’s directorial debut Perhaps Love with Ryu Seungryong suffered a hefty 81% crash over the weekend, partly owing to middling audience scores, but also because of the direct competition posed by fellow romcom Nothing Serious. The film filled 45,000 seats (USD 400,000) over the weekend, pushing its total to 469,000 entries (USD 3.97 million).

Next week will bring with it three major releases, including the Hollywood sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho and the homegrown animation Chun Taeil.