South Korean Box Office: "Hi-Five" Takes the Lead in Weekend Earnings
This weekend, South Korean moviegoers rallied behind local talent as the highly anticipated film "Hi-Five" stormed to the top of the box office, surpassing its Hollywood counterpart in admissions. The film, which debuted at No. 1, raked in an impressive $2.6 million from 380,334 admissions across 1,211 screens, capturing 32.36% of the national revenue share, according to Kobis, the box office tracking service managed by the Korean Film Council.
Directed by Kang Hyoung-chul, "Hi-Five" tells the captivating story of five ordinary individuals who gain superpowers after undergoing organ transplants. They unite to confront a formidable psychic intent on seizing their newfound abilities.
Following closely in second place was "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," which, despite earning slightly more with $2.67 million from 370,876 admissions (33.18% of the weekend market share), fell to the second spot due to a lower number of ticket sales. This Tom Cruise action thriller continues to thrive, amassing a total of $17.7 million and over 2.47 million admissions since its release on May 17.
Another local release, "Big Deal," debuted in third place, grossing $932,024 from 131,626 admissions across 1,040 screens. This ensemble drama, directed by Choi Yun-jin, revolves around a conflict involving Korea’s leading soju company facing bankruptcy and a global investor eyeing the business.
Disney’s live-action adaptation of "Lilo & Stitch" maintained its position in fourth place, earning $645,367 this weekend, bringing its total earnings to $2.2 million with 321,770 admissions since its release on May 21. The Japanese animated fantasy "Magic Candies" came in fifth, earning $89,359 from 24,538 admissions.
In sixth place, the Japanese animation "Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing" grossed $141,905, with a cumulative total of $232,964 and 33,355 admissions. "Sinners," in seventh place, brought in $164,324, pushing its total to $297,376.
The long-running local favorite "Yadang: The Snitch" slipped to eighth place but still added $95,082 to its impressive lifetime gross of $23.2 million from over 3.36 million admissions.
Ninth place was claimed by the new South Korean political thriller "The Pact," which earned $99,676 from its first day of release, attracting 12,832 viewers. Finally, the animated film "The Bad Guys" rounded out the top 10, collecting $72,615 and bringing its cumulative total to $2.9 million since its original release in 2022.
In summary, the weekend’s top 10 films collectively earned just under $7.6 million, marking a slight decrease from the previous week. South Korean films continue to captivate audiences, showcasing the strength and appeal of homegrown cinema.
