Local films debut atop box office

Local films like “The Battle: Roar to Victory” and “Exit” are dominating the box office.

“The Battle: Roar to Victory” sold over 334,000 tickets on its first day of release and shot to the top of the box office, according to Korean Film Council on Thursday. The film is a historical fiction based on the Bongo-dong battle in June 1920, the first recorded victory by an independence militia over Japanese forces during the country’s colonial era (1910-1945).

Although the previous number one film “Exit” slid to second place, the film drew over 4 million moviegoers by its eighth day in theaters.

The rate of ticket sales is similar to this year’s first local film to surpass the 10-million-ticket-sales mark, “The Extreme Job.”

Audiences have praised “Exit” for its unique combination of genres, while abandoning clichés like playing with people’s emotions.

“Bring the Soul: The Movie,” a documentary about K-pop stars BTS ranked third after selling over 109,000 tickets on its first day in theaters.

By Lee Jae-lim