[HanCinema's Film Review] Korean Weekend Box Office 2011.10.21 ~ 2011.10.23

HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review

(2011.10.21 ~ 2011.10.23)

Lee Han's "Punch" edges past "Reel Steel" to sit atop the chart this week. Lee's drama has 461,290 to Shawn Levy's 453,322, seeing it jump from five to first. "Punch" stars Kim Yoon-seok ("The Yellow Sea" and "The Chaser") and Yoo Ah-in ("Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Sky and Sea") as they act out Kim Yeo-ryung's popular novel on the big screen.

"Reel Steel" just missed out on holding onto number one as it found itself 7,968 shy of the mark. Hugh Jackman's latest film has been well received back in its home country and director Shawn Levy would be happy to see that success transfer to the Korean markets. In third is "Always", another Korean film that is gathering momentum climbing three places from last week with 268,422 admissions. "Always" is directed by Song Il-gon and this is his second featured release in 2011, the other being "Sorry, Thanks" which came out at the end of May. "The Client" follows with 115,135, giving a total of some 2,256,985.

In Fifth is the foreign film "The Three Musketeers" falling two places with 99,595 admissions. The controversial Korean film "The Crucible" is losing steam at seven but is smiling as she goes with its hefty total admission count of 4,544,968. The much talked about film added just 80,528 to that total this past week. "Paranormal Activity 3" wasted no time in presenting itself after the success of its predecessors. This third instalment in the series has lured 49,321 to its cause in its opening week in Korea.

Looking at the bottom of the bunch now and it starts with Lee Seong-han's action comedy "HIT". The film occupied the same position last week but does so this week about 7,000 admissions lighter. Next is "Major: The Pitch of Friendship", a Japanese animation film about friendship, dreams, and the belief in both. Lastly, the biggest Korean film of year "Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon" has been given 40 theatres in which the director's cut can be viewed and 5,256 have explored what some of the new scenes and cuts have added to the blockbuster.

Final Korean Box Office - Admissions for the Week-end 2011.10.21 - 2011.10.23 (www.kobis.or.kr)