Timothee Chalamet-starring fantasy “Wonka” claimed the top spot in the weekend’s South Korean box office chart, in an opening that was nearly two months later than many other territories. It delivered a modest jolt to the otherwise slow theatrical market.
“Wonka” earned $3.97 million between Friday and Sunday in Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). It accounted for 53% of cinema business over the weekend. Over the film’s first five days on release, since its Wednesday Korean debut, “Wonka” accumulated $5.67 million.
That counts a decent opening in a traditionally slow month and in a currently depressed Korean box office market. The nationwide cinema market expanded by 25% week-on-week to a weekend size of $7.46 million.
“Citizen of a Kind,” a comedy-drama about a woman who takes matters into her own hands after becoming the victim of a scam, and which topped the box office chart a week earlier, slipped 36% to second place. It added $1.65 million for a 12-day cumulative of $6.47 million.
Fantasy action film, “Alienoid 2” slipped to third place in its fifth weekend. It notched $354,000 between Friday and Sunday. Since releasing on Jan. 10, it has amassed a cumulative of $10.1 million. (Released in 2022, the first instalment earned $12.2 million.)
“The Birth of Korea,” a biopic about a 19th-century Catholic priest, took fourth place earning $219,000 over the weekend and $270,000 over its opening five days.
U.S. animation “Wish” drifted down to fifth place with $172,000 over the latest weekend. Since releasing on Jan. 3, the film has accumulated $9.88 million.
“12.12: The Day,” the political-historical drama that was the biggest film of 2023 in Korea, held sixth place with a $158,000 weekend. The increment lifted the film’s cumulative total to $95.3 million since releasing on Nov. 22.
Cannes Palme d’Or-winner and multiple Oscar nominee “Anatomy of a Fall” opened in seventh place with $129,000 over the weekend. It scored $230,000 over its opening five days since Wednesday.
Another French title, animation film “The Jungle Bunch 2: Operation Meltdown” (marketed in Korea as “The Jungle Bunch: World Tour”) earned $123,000 over its opening five days.
“Migration,” in Korean cinemas since Jan. 10, added $96,000 over the weekend. It has accumulated $2.26 million.
Japanese animation “New Dimension! Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Battle of Supernatural Powers – Flying Sushi” took tenth place with $73,000. Since releasing on Dec. 22, it has amassed $6.68 million.