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[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2015.08.21 ~ 2015.08.23

"Veteran" eyes 10 million…

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Ryoo Seung-wan's crime drama "Veteran" has once again emerged at the top of the pile as it enjoys a third week as Korea's number one. "Veteran" saw another sizeable weekend as it added 1.3 million admissions (43%) to move its total tally to just over 9 million ($59.1 million). Last weekend Ryoo's crime drama attracted a massive 2.2 million filmgoers, and the weekend before that saw 1.9 million flock to its screens, and now the films is poised to join an elite group of South Korea films that have claimed 10 million admissions.

Choi Dong-hoon's "The Assassination" is one such film that has managed to break 10 million admissions, and with the 486 thousand (15.4%) going its way over the weekend, this controversial drama now moves its bottom line to an impressive 11.5 million; that's $74.8 million! This week, however, it was forced down to third as a new local entry by Baek Jong-yeol impressed and narrowly stole second place with 486 thousand admissions (15.5%). "Beauty Inside" is a romantic melodrama that follows a man who wakes up every morning as a different person, all while there's a special lady who's in love with him. Baek's debut stars Han Hyo-joo, Kim Dae-myung and Do Ji-han in a fresh K-comedy that's off to a good start in spite of the heavy hitters all around.

In fourth place fell perhaps one of the most disappointing superhero movie yet: Josh Trank's "Fant4stic". Trank's efforts were given just 450 screens from which to pool from and attracted 234 thousand (7.2%) to its screens in week one. Following in fifth was the latest in the "Mission Impossible" series of films starring Tom Cruise as the American secret agent Ethan Hunt. Last week it featured in third but has slipped two places with a 135 thousand admissions (4.4%). "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" was released at the end of last month and has remained a strong contender and moves onto 5.9 million ($39 million).

Kang Hyo-jin's comedy drama "Wonderful Nightmare" occupied sixth place (down one) with 129 thousand tickets sold (4%), and was closely followed by the popular spinoff "Minions" with 122 thousand (3.5%). "Minions" was made for $74 million, but worldwide Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda's animated antics has banked an incredible $989 million.

It feels like it's been a while since Korea put out a compelling horror, but hoping to correct that is Kim Hwi with "The Chosen: Forbidden Cave" starring Kim Sung-kyun, Yoo Sun, and Cheon Ho-jin. "The Chosen: Forbidden Cave" was released last Thursday and its opening weekend yielded 64 thousand admissions across 327 screens (2%). The critically acclaimed "Inside Out" came next with 54 thousand (1.6%), and the weekend's top performers was rounded out by the Japanese animation "Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno" with 20 thousand admissions.

 

Korean Box Office - Admissions for the Weekend 2015.08.21 - 2015.08.23 (www.kobis.or.kr)

# Films Release date Week-end Total
1 "Veteran" (베테랑) 2015/08/05 1 345 811 9 042 922
2 "Beauty Inside" (뷰티 인사이드) 2015/08/20 486 216 629 856
3 "The Assassination" (암살) 2015/07/22 484 217 11 589 273
4 "Fantastic Four"   234 531 300 024
5 "Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation"   135 319 5 922 512
6 "Wonderful Nightmare" (미쓰 와이프) 2015/08/13 129 901 616 798
7 "Minions"   122 214 2 492 650
8 "The Chosen: Forbidden Cave" (퇴마: 무녀굴) 2015/08/20 64 228 90 061
9 "Inside Out"   54 305 4 892 853
10 "Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno" (名探偵コナン 業火の向日葵)   20 283 459 776
Korean movies only  
  "Memories of the Sword" (협녀, 칼의 기억) 2015/08/13 15 435 415 018
  "Alice In Earnestland" (성실한 나라의 앨리스) 2015/08/13 6 895 33 355
  "SMTOWN The Stage" (SMTOWN The Stage) 2015/08/13 1 324 27 908
  "Factory Complex" (위로공단) 2015/08/13 1 079 7 032
  "Tasty 2: Happy Together" (고녀석 맛나겠다2 : 함께라서 행복해) 2015/07/30 819 51 342
  "The Martyrdom" (순교) 2015/08/13 732 2 816
  "Now Playing" (오늘 영화) 2015/08/20 599 1 534
  "Untouchable Lawmen" (치외법권) 2015/08/27 516 2 618
  "The Office" (오피스) 2015/09/03 318 3 069
  "Dongsimcho" (동심초, 1969) - Re-release   270 3 853

 

- C.J. Wheeler (@WoolgatheristKoreaOnTheCouch)

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