Alien: Romulus dominates South Korean box office amidst fresh releases
A weekend of new contenders
The South Korean box office saw a significant shake-up this past weekend, with “Alien: Romulus” emerging as the top performer. This U.S. horror-thriller franchise film raked in $3.47 million from Friday to Sunday, capturing a 28% market share. Over its full five-day opening, the film accumulated $5.46 million, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
The fall of “Pilot”
The success of “Alien: Romulus” pushed the Korean comedy-drama “Pilot” into second place. “Pilot,” which had dominated the box office for the past two weeks, earned $2.73 million over the latest weekend. Despite a 45% week-on-week decline, the film’s three-weekend cumulative stands at $26.7 million, making it the fourth highest-grossing film in Korea this year. This shift relegates “Wonka” to the fifth position for 2024.
Newcomers making waves
Land of Happiness
The Korean-produced film “Land of Happiness” debuted in third place, earning $1.57 million over the weekend and $3.12 million over five days. This film delves into Korea’s political turmoil of the late 1970s, a theme also explored by last year’s top film, “12.12: The Day.”
Twisters
Another new release, “Twisters,” secured the fourth spot with a modest $1.61 million and a 9.3% market share between Friday and Sunday. Its cumulative earnings from its five-day opening run and earlier preview screenings total $2.17 million.
Heartsping: Teenieping of Love
The Korean animation film “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” slipped from second place on its debut to fifth over the latest weekend, earning $854,000. Its 12-day cumulative total now stands at $4.52 million.
Heartsping: Teenieping of Love
Victory
“Victory,” a Korean comedy-drama about cheerleading that premiered last month at the New York Asian Film Festival, opened in sixth place. It earned $636,000 over the weekend and $1.36 million over five days.
Seventeen Tour ‘Follow’ Again to Cinemas
The concert film “Seventeen Tour ‘Follow’ Again to Cinemas” opened in seventh place, with a weekend gross of $339,000. Local charts, which rank performance by admission numbers, show it in tenth spot. It has earned $843,000 from 45,000 K-pop fans.
Seventeen Tour ‘Follow’ Again to Cinemas
The enduring appeal of animated films
Despicable Me
“Despicable Me” continues to perform well, earning $300,000 over the latest weekend. Its four-weekend cumulative has reached $10.2 million, making it the 14th biggest film in Korea so far this year.
Inside Out 2
“Inside Out 2,” the top import film of the year and third overall in Korea, added another $195,000 to its earnings. Since its release on June 12, it has accumulated $62.6 million.
The fleeting success of “Deadpool & Wolverine”
“Deadpool & Wolverine” appears to have a shorter lifespan at the box office. It earned $188,000 over the latest weekend, bringing its cumulative total to $15.0 million since its release on July 24, the same day as “Despicable Me 4.”
Reflections for cinema enthusiasts
The South Korean box office landscape is a dynamic and ever-changing arena. The success of “Alien: Romulus” highlights the enduring appeal of horror-thriller franchises, while the steady performance of films like “Pilot” and “Despicable Me” underscores the diverse tastes of Korean audiences. New releases like “Land of Happiness” and “Twisters” show that there is always room for fresh stories and perspectives.
For cinema enthusiasts, this weekend’s box office results offer a fascinating glimpse into the preferences and trends shaping the South Korean film industry. Whether you’re a fan of political dramas, animated adventures, or concert films, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Explore these films and more by checking out their trailers and information pages. Happy watching!