‘The Throne’ tops holiday box office
Published: 01 Oct. 2015, 20:38
Korean period drama “The Throne,” directed by Lee Joon-ik, was the most popular film at the local box office during the four-day Chuseok holiday from Sept. 26 to 29.
Collecting 2.1 million ticket admissions, the 2016 Oscar contender for foreign-language film was able to rake in 17.7 billion won ($15.05 million) during the holiday, according to the state-run Korean Film Council.
Since the historical flick opened nationwide Sept. 16, “The Throne,” which tells the tragic father-son story of King Yeongjo and Crown Prince Sado during the Joseon Dynasty, has sold nearly 5 million tickets as of Thursday, earning 39.2 billion won.
“The Accidental Detective,” a comedy starring Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo and experienced actor Seong Dong-il, was the runner-up in the Chuseok box office race. It collected 1.1 million ticket admissions, making 9.2 billion won.
Making a successful return after a four-year hiatus, Kwon’s latest film has sold 1.4 million tickets since it was released Sept. 24, which roughly translates to 11.4 billion won.
Hollywood franchise “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,” the second installment of the trilogy, was relegated to third place, collecting 797,533 ticket admissions.
Newly opened feel-good comedy “The Intern,” featuring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, was able to lock in fourth place. The workplace comedy sold 595,467 tickets during the holiday, amassing 5 billion won.
Meanwhile, local film “The Long Way Home,” handled by Lotte Entertainment, made a disappointing debut in fifth place.
Starring Sul Kyung-gu and Yeo Jin-gu as soldiers from the South and North who form an unlikely friendship during the 1950-53 Korean War, it was unable to stand out among international competitors, selling just 399,861 tickets.
BY JIN EUN-SOO [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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