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[Hancinema's Box Office Review] 2013.03.08 ~ 2013.03.10

HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review 

(2013.03.08 ~ 2013.03.10)

Park Hoon-jung's "The New World" enjoyed its third successive weekend as Korea's number one film. Park's action thriller added 508,889 (30.9%) stubs to move its total admissions count to 3.3 million. Park's second feature withstood the continuous pressure from Lee Hwan-gyeong's silver bullet hit "Miracle in Cell No.7", which itself is now standing in its eighth week. "Miracle in Cell No.7" has never slipped past second place, and its numbers continue to swell to record-breaking heights. Three other films came into the charts this past weekend that, although weren't able to cause much distress at the top of pile, did cause a shuffle in the upper echelons of Korea's top ten.

The mighty "Miracle in Cell No.7" received only 291,884 (16.7%) admissions making this the lowest performance, in terms of simply admissions, Lee's film has seen during its weeks at the top. Still that mere sum was good enough to secure second place, marking the quietist week at the movies we've seen so far this year. The mystery thriller "Psycho-metry", by director Kwon Ho-young ("Parallel Life" and "Forbidden Floor - 4 Horror Tales"), entered the charts at third with 242,319 (14.8%) of its own; almost forcing Lee's crowd-pleaser to take bronze. "Psycho-metry" marks the third feature by Kwon Ho-young and stars Kim Kang-woo, Kim Beom, Esom, and the adorable Kim Yoo-bin-I. At number four was the fantasical re-framing of the classic "Wizard of Oz" story. This time the US studios have switch polarity as they delve into the Wizards rise to power in "Oz the Great and Powerful". The film conjured up 208,952 (13.57%) admissions in its first weekend out in Korea.

Myths and fables continue to shape some of this year's releases, as we once again see with this week's number five flick "Jack the Giant Slayer". This cinematic retelling impressively occupied third last weekend, but has come down in favour with just 147,478 (8.6%) to its name here. The American historical drama "Zero Dark Thirty" followed that fall in sixth with a tentative 61,171 (3.5%) of its own. "Zero Dark Thirty" is a politically charged film that was bombarded with Oscar nominations in five categories, but at the end of the night it was forced to smile at the prospect of sharing the honour in the 'Best Sound Editing" category with "Skyfall". Ryoo Seung-wan's "The Berlin File" fell five places as its top ten showing came under threat. Ryoo's film added 56,401 (3.4%) to an very healthy total of more than 7 million, placing it as the second highest grossing film released in Korea for the year thus far.

Into the tail now and leading us to ten is China's action-adventure "Chinese Zodiac". Jackie Chan headlines in this one but even he couldn't persuade Korean filmgoers to fork out more than 41,665 (2.4%) stubs for his efforts. "Chinese Zodiac" held sixth last weekend with 162,566 (5.2%) but has been quickly reconsidered as hot local and other foreign entries make their stand. Second to last was Park Chan-wook's first English-language film "Stoker", proving once again that all though local talent has got what it takes to enter Holloywood, the fans back home have not yet be convinced of their efforts overseas. "Stoker" received a pitiful 38,430 (2.4%) to bring its total admissions in Korea to 343,752. Lastly was find India's "Delhi Safari" in its third, and most likely final, week with 17,266 (0.9%), dragging its total now to 302,550.

 

Korean Box Office - Admissions for the Weekend 2013.03.08 - 2013.03.10 (www.kobis.or.kr)

# Films Release date Week-end Total
1 "The New World" (신세계) 2013/02/21 508 889 3 369 646
2 "Miracle in Cell No.7" (7번방의 선물) 2013/01/23 291 884 12 177 983
3 "Psycho-metry" (사이코메트리) 2013/03/07 242 319 297 330
4 "Oz the Great and Powerful"   208 952 228 686
5 "Jack the Giant Killer"   147 478 885 989
6 "Zero Dark Thirty"   61 170 72 221
7 "The Berlin File"   56 401 7 100 309
8 "'12' Chinese Zodiac Heads (十二生肖)"   41 665 296 010
9 "Stoker"   38 430 343 752
10 "Dehli Safari"   17 266 302 550
Korean movies only  
  "Paparoti" (파파로티) 2013/03/14 5 738 22 089
  "Nobody's Daughter Haewon" (누구의 딸도 아닌 해원) 2013/02/28 5 371 21 750
  "Pororo, The Racing Adventure" (뽀로로의 슈퍼 썰매 대모험) 2013/01/24 3 251 925 196
  "Jiseul" (지슬) 2013/03/21 2 807 8 280
  "An Ethics Lesson" (분노의 윤리학) 2013/02/21 1 528 224 616
  "How to Use Guys with Secret Tips" (남자사용설명서) 2013/02/14 1 114 507 306
  "Behind the Camera" (뒷담화:감독이 미쳤어요) 2013/02/28 562 4 721
  "Kisses" (키스) 2013/03/07 298 545
  "The Sunshine Boys" (1999, 면회) 2013/02/21 279 3 009
  "Jury" (주리) 2013/03/07 263 535

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