Stream K-Dramas at OnDemandKorea

[HanCinema's Weekend Box Office Review] 2013.01.04 ~ 2013.01.06

HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review 

(2013.01.04 ~ 2013.01.06)

The first weekend of 2013 has rewarded Korean director Kim Ji-hoon with an improved follow-up to his 2011 flop "Sector 7" (2,239,331) in the form of this weekend's number on film "The Tower". Kim's intense new drama claimed 812,839 admissions in the first weekend of the New Year, moving its total now to 3,539,877 since its release on Christmas day. "The Tower" stars Sol Kyung-gu, Son Ye-jin and Kim Sang-kyung as a group of dedicated fire fighters persevere to extinguish a Christmas Eve fire in a high-rise building. This is one of only two only Korean films in the top ten this week, the others being Jeong Gi-hoon's "Love 911" and Jeong Yong-ki's "Marrying the Mafia – Return of the Family".

The heartfelt film "Les Misérables" has been extremely popular in Korea and has amassed an appreciative 4,207,834 admissions, 525,258 of which came this past weekend. High drama seems to be the winning formula as adaptation "Life of Pie" (based of the popular novel by Yann Martel) follows suit with 345,807 of its own. Ang Lee's "Life of Pie" was produced on an estimated budget of $120,000,000 and has grossed $74,156,244 in the U.S (as of 23 December 2012). The number four spots was held down by Jeong Gi-hoon's drama "Love 911" staring Go Soo ("The Front Line") and Han Hyo-joo ("Masquearde") as two lovers fights to support and love each other through their personal hardships. "Love 911" is Jeong's second film, his first film was "Ae-ja" which claimed almost 2 millions admission back in 2009.

"Wreck-it Ralph" is a fun animation adventure that follows a video game villain and his evil plot to disrupt and wreck the arcade in which he lives. Rich Moore is the director of this one and he is responsible for a number of the "Simpsons" and "Futurama" episodes, as well as being involved in a number of other T.V. related shows and shorts. "Wreck-it Ralph" walk away with just 92,471 and was followed by the much anticipated "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". Peter Jackson's new film has struggled in Korea and has only managed to collect 2,776,058 since its release on the 13th of December. The South Africa film "Zambezia" is at number seven with 78,403 admissions to its name. Triggerfish Animation studios in Cape Town produced the film and its run in Korea has thus far been rewarded with 390,757 admissions.

Into the bottom three we go starting with the Christmas animation "Niko 2 - Little Brother, Big Trouble" with 60,030, followed by the 5th film in the "Marrying the Mafia" comedy series: "Marrying the Mafia – Return of the Family". The previous entry into the series ("Marrying the Mafia IV - Family Ordeal" by Jeong Tae-won) claimed 2,363,656, and this latest instalment currently is sitting on 1,133,216 admissions since its release on the 19th of last month. At number ten is "The Nutcracker in 3D" with 26,933 as the Christmas films drift away in the light of the New Year.

 

- C.J. Wheeler (chriscjw@gmail.com)

 

Korean Box Office - Admissions for the Weekend 2013.01.04 - 2013.01.06 (www.kobis.or.kr)

# Films Release date Week-end Total
1 "The Tower" (타워) 2012/12/25 812 839 3 539 877
2 "Les Misérables"   525 258 4 207 834
3 "Life of Pi"   345 807 610 835
4 "Love 911" (반창꼬) 2012/12/19 246 937 2 221 828
5 "Wreck-It Ralph"   92 471 802 151
6 "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"   79 246 2 776 058
7 "Zambezia"   78 403 390 757
8 "Niko 2 - Little Brother, Big Trouble" (Niko 2 - Lentäjäveljekset)   60 030 371 661
9 "Marrying the Mafia 5 - Return of the Family" (가문의 영광5 - 가문의 귀환) 2012/12/19 50 052 1 133 216
10 "The Nutcracker in 3D"   26 933 34 821
Korean movies only  
  "Whatcha Wearin'?" (나의 P.S 파트너) 2012/12/06 16 524 1 822 606
  "My Little Hero" (마이 리틀 히어로) 2013/01/09 3 193 6 999
  "26 Years" (26년) 2012/11/29 2 516 2 946 799
  "Man on the Edge" (박수건달) 2013/01/09 1 100 8 533
  "A Boy's Sister" (누나) 2013/01/03 516 920
  "A Werewolf Boy" (늑대소년) 2012/10/31 131 6 654 682
  "Suddenly Last Summer" (지난여름, 갑자기) 2012/11/15 85 2 814
  "Going South" (남쪽으로 간다) 2012/11/15 85 2 344
  "Confession of Murder" (내가 살인범이다) 2012/11/08 62 11 646
  "The Russian Novel" (러시안 소설, 2012)   56 117

Advertisement

❎ Try Ad-free