Market Continues to Contract Amid Omicron Surge

With new Covid daily case records continuing to hit the news, the traffic at cinemas was once again kept to a minimum. Admissions slowed 5%, with 343,000 tickets snatched up over the weekend, while the local market share jumped up eightfold to 42% thanks to this week’s new number one.

Topping the charts in its debut was the local drama In Our Prime with Choi Minshik. The film welcomed 140,000 viewers (USD 1.11 million) over the weekend and has filled 246,000 seats (USD 1.9 million) since its Wednesday debut. Despite positive audience scores, the film will likely relinquish its throne to a new Hollywood blockbuster this week.

Falling 52% in its sophomore weekend, The Batman brought in 110,000 spectators (USD 953,000) over the weekend, pushing the DC Comics tentpole’s total haul to 734,000 entries (USD 6.16 million) to date. Though a low number for a comic book film, the Batman character hasn’t been a recipe for success in the Korean market since The Dark Knight Rises in 2012. 

The Japanese animation Jujutsu Kaisen: Zero slowed by just 20% as it held steady in third place with 29,000 sales (USD 236,000). The film has so far welcomed 449,000 viewers (USD 3.6 million).

Down two spots and 63%, Uncharted added 13,000 entries (USD 109,000) over the weekend, boosting its total to 717,000 admissions (USD 5.67 million).

Kicking off its run in fifth place with 13,000 (USD 102,000) tickets sold was the Japanese animation Boku no Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission. In five days, the film has brought in 36,000 viewers (USD 277,000).

Opening this week will be the Roland Emmerich SF-action film Moonfall, while awards favorite Spencer with Kristen Stewart is also doing well in pre-sales.