The South Korean box office continues to be dominated by the gripping and mysterious drama “Exhuma.” For the fourth weekend in a row, the film has captured over 50% of the market share, solidifying its reign at the top. Alongside it, “Dune 2” maintains its second-place position for the third consecutive weekend. Let’s dive deeper into the success of “Exhuma” and the impressive performance it has achieved.
A Thrilling Tale of Shaman and Mystery
“Exhuma” revolves around two shaman, a feng shui master, and a mortician who join forces to unravel the enigmatic events plaguing a U.S.-based Korean family. With its captivating storyline, the film has struck a chord with audiences, resulting in a staggering $5.80 million in box office earnings from Friday to Sunday alone. According to data from the Korean Film Council (Kofic)’s tracking service Kobis, this represents a remarkable 67% share of the overall market.
Soaring Success and Box Office Milestones
With almost four weeks in theaters, “Exhuma” has now amassed an impressive total of $67.3 million in box office revenue. This figure not only makes it the highest-grossing film of the year so far but also ranks it as the fourth highest-earning film since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie has already sold 9.30 million tickets, and it looks poised to surpass the ten million admissions mark, a clear representation of blockbuster status in Korea.
“Dune 2” Holds Strong in Second Place
While “Exhuma” takes the spotlight, “Dune 2” continues to trail closely behind in second place. The highly anticipated sequel garnered $1.73 million in weekend earnings, securing a significant 19% share of the total market. Throughout its nearly three weeks in theaters, the film has accumulated a noteworthy $13.6 million in revenue, making it the third-highest-grossing movie of the year in South Korea. When considering ticket sales, it ranks fourth, with “Citizen of a Kind” taking the third spot.
Consistency in the Box Office Chart
Maintaining their positions from the previous weekend, “Wonka” remains in third place, amassing $335,000 for a total of $25 million, while “Poor Things” holds onto fourth place with $174,000, reaching a two-weekend total of $822,000. Korean animation “Bread Barbershop: Celeb in Bakery Town” continues to charm audiences, securing fifth place with $128,000 and a three-week total of $1.09 million.
New Releases and Their Impact
Among the new releases in the Korean box office, “Land of Bad,” an action thriller featuring Liam Hemsworth, Luke Hemsworth, and Russell Crowe, gained the highest placement, opening in sixth place with $105,000 over the weekend and $165,000 over five days. “Past Lives,” a Korean-American drama film, followed closely in seventh place, earning $117,000 and reaching a two-weekend total of $612,000. Despite the film’s appearance at the Oscars, its immediate impact on the local box office seems to have been limited.
International Hit Finds a Quieter Reception
“Bob Marley: One Love,” a hit in many international markets, opened relatively mutedly in Korea, taking eighth place. The film earned $87,000 over the weekend and $187,000 over five days. In ninth place, “The Birth of Korea” added $58,400 to its total earnings, which now stand at an impressive $8.09 million since its release on February 1. Finally, the Canadian animation film “Katak: The Brave Beluga” kickstarts its journey in the Korean box office, opening in tenth place with $59,000 over five days.
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Source link: Variety