The delayed release of “Wonka” continued to pay dividends as the Timothee Chalamet-starring fantasy headed the box office in South Korea for a third weekend. But the theatrical market contracted sharply after the Lunar New Year holiday.
“Wonka,” which released in much of the world in December, took $1.95 million between Friday and Sunday in Korea. That represented a 50% week-on-week tumble but it put “Wonka” on a cumulative total of $16.7 million after 19 days on release and confirmed the title as the top performing film of 2024 in Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Warner Bros. announced that with this weekend’s increment, the film has now grossed $600 million worldwide.
The wider Korean cinema market, however, dropped more steeply – from $11.8 million over the Lunar New Year holiday to $5.26 million in the latest session. That was the fourth lowest weekend over the past 12 months.
“The Birth of Korea,” a biopic about a 19th-century Catholic priest, climbed from fourth place a week earlier to second over the latest session. It scored $993,000, a strong hold from $1.12 million, and leaves it with a 17-day total of $4.46 million.
The weekend’s top-scoring new release title was Japanese animation “Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training,” the latest feature in the film and TV franchise. It opened in Korea with $863,000 over the weekend and $1.92 million over its opening five days.
“Citizen of a Kind,” a Korean comedy-drama about a woman who takes matters into her own hands after becoming the victim of a scam, earned $420,000 over the latest weekend. Its $11.3 million cumulative is the second highest of any film so far this year in Korea.
CJ ENM-backed comedy drama “Dog Days” dropped to fifth place in its second weekend on release. It earned $208,000 for a cumulative of $2.36 million. It was followed by Korean drama “Picnic” earned $174,000 over the weekend for a $1.58 million 12-day cumulative.
“Argylle” confirmed its rapid southward trajectory. It earned just $60,000, in eighth place, on its second weekend. After 12 days in Korean cinemas, it has earned $1.02 million.
Korean animation “Baby Shark’s Big Movie” earned $52,000 on its second weekend, for a cumulative of $487,000.
Newly released Spanish animation “Johnny Puff: Secret Mission” opened with $51,000 over five days.
