The South Korean box office experienced a surge over the weekend, thanks to the Lunar New Year holidays. Despite a declining market share, the Hollywood fantasy film 'Wonka' continued to dominate, holding strong at the top spot. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated Hollywood spy comedy 'Argylle' opened disappointingly in seventh position.
The Lunar New Year holidays in Korea spanned three days, from Friday to Sunday, providing an excellent opportunity for moviegoers to visit the cinemas. This holiday footfall resulted in a significant increase in the box office, pushing the overall theatrical market up by 50% from $7.47 million to $11.3 million.
'Wonka' remained the audience's favorite for the second consecutive weekend, earning $3.88 million. This successful weekend brought its total earnings in Korea to an impressive $11.6 million after just 12 days in cinemas. It managed to maintain its momentum despite facing stiff competition from new releases.
Another film that benefited from the holiday traffic was 'Citizen of a Kind.' The movie expanded its screenings, resulting in an identical weekend box office performance of $2.59 million, matching its opening weekend figures. With a cumulative total of $9.78 million after 19 days in cinemas, 'Citizen of a Kind' has garnered steady support from Korean audiences.
Among the new releases, the CJ ENM-backed comedy drama 'Dog Days' secured the third position, opening with $1.14 million. Within its first five days, it accumulated a total of $1.59 million, showcasing promising potential as it continues its theatrical run.
'The Birth of Korea' maintained its presence, holding onto the fourth place. This historical film saw a significant expansion in its earnings, bringing in $1.12 million over the weekend. Since its release on February 1st, it has garnered a cumulative total of $1.80 million.
Opening in fifth place was the Korean-made crime thriller 'Dead Man,' which earned $863,000 over the holiday weekend. With $1.26 million within its first five days, the film showcases a strong start and may attract further attention as more viewers discover its gripping storyline.
Following closely in sixth place was the nostalgic romantic drama 'Picnic,' a Korean production that earned $693,000 over the weekend and a total of $943,000 within its first five days in cinemas. Although it didn't rank as high as some of its competitors, its unique charm may attract a specific audience seeking heartfelt storytelling.
However, it was slightly disappointing for 'Argylle,' the highly anticipated Hollywood spy comedy. It debuted in the seventh position, earning $481,000 over the weekend and $752,000 within its first five days in Korean cinemas. While it will be interesting to see if word-of-mouth publicity and positive reviews can improve its standing, it currently lags behind the local films vying for the top spots.
Rounding off the lower places were 'Baby Shark's Big Movie' with $289,000 within its first five days, the long-running 2023 hit '12.12: The Day' with $103,000 (totaling a remarkable cumulative earning of $95 million), and the French animation 'The Jungle Bunch 2: World Tour,' which earned $75,000 in its second weekend, bringing its cumulative total to $222,000.
The South Korean box office experienced a thrilling weekend propelled by the Lunar New Year holidays. While 'Wonka' continued to shine at the top, local releases showcased their strength, leaving 'Argylle' to struggle in its opening weekend. With many films gaining traction and attracting diverse audiences, it will be fascinating to observe how the box office landscape evolves in the coming weeks.
