Tickets Sales Flat as Omicron Cases Peak in Korea

Despite new record daily COVID case numbers as Korea reaches the peak of its Omicron wave, the box office didn’t lose ground over the weekend as it stayed flat with last week. Admissions reached 344,000 with 29% of those sales snatched up by local fare.

Entering the chart in first place with a minor start was Roland Emmerich’s SF-action film Moonfall. The film filled 102,000 seats (USD 880,000) over the weekend, with 137,000 viewers (USD 1.17 million) counted in total over its first five days. With poor reviews and audience reactions, the film is quickly fading on the daily charts, having already dropped to second by Sunday. The film will likely be pushed down further by this week’s new releases.

The local drama In Our Prime had a healthy 33% hold in its second weekend as it welcomed 94,000 spectators (USD 750,000) to multiplexes. The Choi Min-shik vehicle has sold 386,000 tickets (USD 3.04 million) to date and managed to reclaim first place on Sunday, indicating that it still has some gas left in the tank.

During its third weekend in theaters, The Batman lost half its audience, recording 56,000 entries (USD 471,000) over the frame to lift its total to 824,000 admissions (USD 7.05 million).

On the back of strong reviews, the Princess Diana biopic Spencer initially entered the charts in third place on Wednesday but ultimately had to settle for fourth place over the weekend with 28,000 sales (USD 225,000). Over five days, the drama has sold 43,000 tickets (USD 341,000).

Still a presence on the charts five weeks into its run was Jujutsu Kaisen: Zero which slowed just 27%. The Japanese animation added 21,000 sales (USD 179,000), lifting its haul to 484,000 entries (USD 3.98 million).

Looking to score an easy first place debut this coming weekend will be the local gangster drama Hot Blooded with Jung Woo.