Table of Contents
In a spectacular debut, Avatar: Fire and Ash, directed by the renowned James Cameron, has made a significant impact at the Korean box office. From December 19 to December 21, the film amassed an impressive $10.2 million from 1.3 million admissions. This remarkable opening marks a strong start for the highly anticipated sequel and sets the stage for its continued success.
According to the data provided by KOBIS, the Korean Film Council’s tracking service, this third installment in the Avatar franchise accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total weekend revenues. The film was featured on 2,514 screens and quickly reached a cumulative total of $13.6 million within just five days.
Competing films in the market
Following closely behind, Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 secured the second position, adding $4 million to its Korean total, which now stands at $41.2 million after four weekends in theaters. This beloved family film attracted over 620,000 admissions, maintaining its grip on audiences despite the release of Cameron’s latest blockbuster.
In third place, the local animated film Pororo the Movie: Sweet Castle Adventure brought in $250,668, raising its overall earnings to $805,395. Meanwhile, the South Korean comedy-drama The People Upstairs followed in fourth, grossing $262,926 and accumulating a total of $3.2 million. Directed by Ha Jung-woo and featuring stars like Gong Hyo-jin and Kim Dong-wook, this film delves into the tensions between neighbors, culminating in a dinner that morphs into a night of deep revelations.
International releases and box office dynamics
Another noteworthy entry in the Korean market was the Japanese anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Incident / Culling Game – The Movie, which ranked fifth with earnings of $129,992, raising its total to $2.3 million. Directed by Shōta Goshozono, this animated feature encapsulates the intense Shibuya Incident arc from the series, as Yuji Itadori and his allies confront a coordinated curse attack during Halloween.
Universal’s horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 managed to secure sixth place with $126,015, bringing its cumulative total to $1.4 million. Additionally, preview screenings of Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers entered the charts at seventh position with $75,097 ahead of its official release on December 24.
Overall box office performance
The eighth position was held by the musical sequel Wicked: For Good, which garnered $49,252, pushing its overall total to $6.5 million. Japanese filmmaker Miyake Sho’s critically acclaimed film Two Seasons, Two Strangers added $45,916 to its total, now at $238,103. This film explores contrasting seasonal experiences through the eyes of a screenwriter named Lee, played by Shim Eun-kyung.
Rounding out the top ten was the Oscar-shortlisted Japanese period drama Kokuho, which earned $31,713, raising its total gross to $1.1 million. Collectively, the top ten films during the December 19-21 weekend grossed an impressive $15.2 million, a significant increase from the previous weekend’s $9.5 million.
Looking ahead in the box office landscape
As the holiday movie season approaches, the competition among films is expected to intensify. The success of Avatar: Fire and Ash sets a promising tone for the upcoming weeks, especially as families and moviegoers flock to theaters during this festive period. With strong word-of-mouth and audience enthusiasm, the film is poised to maintain its momentum.
In summary, the Korean box office has witnessed a remarkable performance from Avatar: Fire and Ash, affirming its place in the cinematic landscape while navigating a competitive environment of both local and international films. As the holiday season unfolds, the film’s trajectory will be closely monitored, potentially leading to more record-breaking achievements.