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In the bustling world of cinema, the weekend from December 26 to 28 marked a significant achievement for James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which dominated the Korean box office. The blockbuster attracted over one million viewers, generating impressive revenues of $8.6 million and bringing its total earnings to $32.5 million, according to data from the Korean Film Council’s tracking service, KOBIS.
Strong contenders in the box office
Following closely behind, the animated sequel Zootopia 2 maintained its position in second place. The film added $3 million to its total this weekend, which now stands at $50.3 million. With over 7.4 million admissions, it’s evident that this sequel has resonated well with audiences, solidifying its status as one of 2025’s most successful imported animated films.
New releases making waves
In third place, the South Korean romantic drama titled Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight debuted with a strong $1.2 million during its opening weekend. Directed by Kim Hye-young and based on a novel by Ichijo Misaki, the film tells the poignant story of a high school girl suffering from anterograde amnesia. Each day, she forgets the memories of the previous day, crafting a unique narrative that blends love and sorrow. Within just five days, the film has already garnered approximately $2.5 million.
Another significant release is the Japanese animated feature, Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers. It secured fourth place at the box office, earning $773,000 and bringing its total earnings to $1.8 million. Following closely is the local family film Pororo the Movie: Sweet Castle Adventure, which rose to fifth position after adding $147,000 to its total, now at $1.2 million.
Steady performers and unexpected entries
The comedy-drama The People Upstairs has consistently secured sixth place at the box office, with cumulative earnings reaching $3.6 million. Directed by Ha Jung-woo, the film features a talented cast, including Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook, and Lee Ha-nee. It explores the challenges faced by a couple as they navigate the disruptions caused by their upstairs neighbors. What begins as a dinner to address the noise escalates into an evening filled with revealing confessions and unexpected tensions.
The thrill of adaptations and sequels
In seventh place, The Life of Chuck, adapted from a work by renowned author Stephen King, debuted with earnings of $43,642. Meanwhile, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 generated an additional $38,622, bringing its total to $1.5 million, as it continues to captivate horror enthusiasts.
The box office chart concludes with two Japanese anthology films, Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26 Part-1 and Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26 Part-2, which earned $44,274 and $44,473 respectively. In total, the top ten films earned $14.02 million over the weekend, reflecting a slight decrease from the previous week’s total of $15.2 million.
The film industry continues to evolve, as evidenced by the enduring popularity of established franchises and the rise of new narratives. Viewer preferences are likely to shift in the coming weeks, reflecting a growing interest in the diverse offerings available in theaters.