“Avatar: Fire and Ash” continued to dominate the Korean box office over the weekend of January 2-4, raking in $5.2 million from 630,640 admissions. According to KOBIS, the tracking service run by the Korean Film Council, the latest installment of James Cameron’s sci-fi franchise has raked in $44.4 million in Korea since its Dec. 17 release.
South Korean romantic drama “Once We Were Us,” which debuted with $1.8 million from 263,925 admissions, debuted in second place. Directed by Kim Tae-yong, the film follows two former lovers who unexpectedly cross paths years after their breakup, confronting unresolved emotions and the lives they built apart. The film stars Park Bo-young and Yoo Yeon-seok and has grossed $3.2 million to date.
“Zootopia 2” placed third, adding $1.6 million for the frame and bringing its cumulative total to $53.9 million, cementing its status as one of the highest-grossing animated films in Korea.
In fourth place, “Even If This Love Fades From the World Tonight” grossed $789,934, bringing its total to $4.4 million. Directed by Kim Hye-young and based on the novel by Ichijo Misaki, the film stars Choo Young-woo and Shin Si-ah in a bittersweet high school romance centered on a girl suffering from anterograde amnesia whose memories reset every morning.
“Choir of God” debuted in fifth place with $401,938, bringing its total to $7,732,062. The film follows North Korea’s efforts to circumvent international sanctions by seeking help from a Hungarian NGO to build churches in Pyongyang.
Japanese animated title “Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers” placed sixth with $333,136, bringing its total to $2.6 million.
“The SpongeBob Movie: Finding SquarePants” opened in seventh place with $200,128, while Warner Bros. “Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass” followed in eighth place with $79,311 and now has a cume of $162,873.
“Pororo the Movie: Sweet Castle Adventure” continued its family run in ninth position, earning $78,315 and bringing its cumulative gross to $1.4 million.
Rounding out the top 10, the special 25th anniversary edition of Wong Kar-wai’s classic “In the Mood for Love” added $73,023 from limited screenings.
The top ten films collectively grossed $10.6 million, up from $14.02 million last weekend.
