The movie "The Host" by director Bong Joon-ho topped the Chinese box-office last week by grossing around 5.2 million yuan in China.
The movie became the first Korean film to ever top the Chinese box-office in the first week since its opening there. So far, "Daisy" starring Jeon Ji-hyeon and Jeong Woo-seong had been the best-performing Korean film in China by taking the first spot in May last year on the day of its opening.
Chungeorahm Film, the production firm of "The Host", said the movie, which opened in China under the title "The Han River Ghost", beat its high-profile rivals, including the Hollywood hit "The Devil Wears Prada", on March 8, topping the country's box-office.
"The Host" opened in some 250 theaters in China -- a record number among Korean movies that have opened in the country to date -- taking 25 percent of China's opening screen quota.
Chinese media gave rave reviews of the movie, saying that Chinese women flocked to see the movie and that theaters were flooded with inquiries about group ticketing. One Chinese daily wrote that "The Host" is a Korean-type masterpiece that stands apart from Hollywood movies and exquisitely blends the elements of black comedy and satire.
The popularity of "The Host" will likely continue in China for the time being as no "big rivals" are expected to open in the country in the next three weeks.
"The Host" will also open in Germany, India, Denmark and Argentina in the first half of the year.
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