SOUL Overcomes DRAGON SLAYER in Animation Box Office Showdown

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SOUL Overcomes DRAGON SLAYER in Animation Box Office Showdown

Feb 01, 2021

Writer by Pierce Conran
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THREE SISTERS, Produced by MOON So-ri, Debuts in 3rd

Despite continued restrictions on theatergoing, the business continued to rise, growing another 20% during its most recent session. All told, 435,000 tickets were sold over the three-day weekend, a 450% rise over the lowest weekend ever recorded at the box office two weeks ago. A well-received new local indie film also boosted the local market share, which increased sevenfold to 8%.

Retaining the weekend crown was Pixar’s Soul, which has enamored both critics and viewers since its launch. The film was down a slight 9% in the face of stiff competition, as it welcomed 277,000 viewers (USD 2.32 million) over the weekend. To date, the animated film has sold 875,000 tickets (USD 7.1 million).

Following its preview session a week earlier, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train had to settle for a second place debut, during which it filled 103,000 seats (USD 880,000). The animation film, which recently became the most successful Japanese film of all time, has to date recorded 206,000 entries (USD 1.63 million) in Korea.

The Korean indie film Three Sisters, a Jeonju Cinema Project that screened at both the Jeonju and Busan International Film Festivals last year, debuted in third place on the charts with 27,000 admissions (USD 208,000) over the weekend. Produced by MOON So-ri and starring her alongside KIM Sun-young and JANG Yoon-joo, the film has to date brought in 42,000 spectators (USD 317,000).

Opening in fourth place was Detective Conan: The Scarlet School Trip, the latest film in the animated film franchise, which kicked off its run with 23,000 sales (USD 181,000). Over five days the film has filled 38,000 seats (USD 282,000).

Also debuting on Wednesday was the American comedy Booksmart, with 6,000 entries (USD 37,000) over the weekend, and 9,500 admissions (USD 52,000) over its first five days.

Both Soul and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train are well positioned to keep drawing in crowds over this coming weekend, while a re-release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is also in the mix. With social distancing guidelines, which include 9 pm closures of cinemas in the Greater Seoul area, still in effect, titles aimed at children, who typically don’t go to evenings shows, have been faring better at the box office.

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