South Korea Box Office

[Fish&chips]

I don't know if it's been discussed already but with the social distancing measures, movie goers are currently unable to sit next to each other (have to sit one seat over) which kind of defeats the idea of going to watch movies "together" not to mention the fact that every showtime has a maximum cap of 50% seat capacity. Wearing a mask throughout is a given of course. 

 

Oh and for some bizarre reason, they still sell popcorn at all the chains but they ban popcorn eating inside the actual theater. One of the more idiotic decisions made by the major movie chains among a string of idiotic decisions. All of which is contributing to people being turned off from movies in South Korea. Lack of a "must-see" film isn't helping either. 

 

Regarding Shang Chi, I've seen more buzz online over the recent Spiderman trailer than at the release of Shang-Chi

[imbruglia]

4 hours ago, TigerPaw said:

Also depends on screens and competition from weekend 2 onwards right? I mean if it is a WoM play..

there will be no competition on second week, but September 15 might have two significant local films alongside malignant., also Harry Potter 1 re-release.

 

the thing is.. I don't see WOM played into this type of film. 

[imbruglia]

press screening reactions seems good.

 

all the events and merchindise are announced today.

random..Lottecinema is giving Eternals Poster with shang-chi pre sale.. lol

Edited August 27, 2021 by imbruglia

[charlie Jatinder]

Its hard to say, but may be 150K final PS for Shang Chi.

 

Would guess

230
160
190

410

325 // 1315K ($11.75M)

 

[charlie Jatinder]

2 hours ago, imbruglia said:

press screening reactions seems good.

 

all the events and merchindise are announced today.

random..Lottecinema is giving Eternals Poster with shang-chi pre sale.. lol

That's why sales seems bit better today? Need organic sales. May be this will not be as pre-sale loaded as big MCU film and get walkins.

[charlie Jatinder]

Just above 35k. So I suppose the film ain't opening well. Only hope is theatrical exclusivity may give it a run.

 

If KOR, best MCU market is like this, I suppose no point in having any hopes elsewhere as far as opening is concerned.

[imbruglia]

8-27 Friday
1. Hostge - 53,576 +14.9% (908,181) / 4,567 showings
2. Sinkhole - 30,670 +11.4% (1,832,890) / 3,473 showings
3. Escape from Mogadishu - 29,930 +22.4% (2,928,261) / 2,580 showings
4. Guimoon - 9,296 -11.1% (40,220) / 1,530 showings
5. Reminiscence - 3,912 -11.2% (22,101) / 1,098 showings
6. Free Guy - 3,545 +45% (272,178) / 299 showings
7. My Love - 2,946 -14.2% (13,240) / 417 showings
8. Old - 1,422 +10.5% (102,055) / 211 showings 

 

compare to last week's Friday
Hostage -36.1%
Sinkhole -45.6%
Escape from Mogadishu : -25.7%
Free Guy -49.8%
Old -86.8%

 

KOBIS pre-sale 12:00
1. Hostage - 53,005
2. Shang-Chi - 36,098 (+8,119) D-04
3. Sinkhole - 25,138
4. Mogadishu - 22,403 

 

*Black Widow D-04 was 116,041(+12k)

 

D-04 -> OD / Shang Chi Projection
The Medium - 36.7k -> 129,870 / SC 127,739
Escape from Mogadishu - 33,082 -> 126,542 / SC 138,078
Sinkhole - 30,114 -> 147,041 / SC 176,259
Hostage - 27,669 -> 97,226 / SC 126,844
Boss Bay 2 - 19,932 -> 57,781 / SC 104,644

 

foreign films usually have higher pre-sale and less walk in compare to local films.

Shang-chi's pre-sale started late, this could be one of issue, and might pick up some pace later on like TSS did. (its D-04 was only at 12k but did 60k)

[charlie Jatinder]

I wouldn't have mind 36k much frankly but the fact those are boosted by discounts and give aways make it look bad.

[TigerPaw]

1 hour ago, charlie Jatinder said:

Just above 35k. So I suppose the film ain't opening well. Only hope is theatrical exclusivity may give it a run.

 

If KOR, best MCU market is like this, I suppose no point in having any hopes elsewhere as far as opening is concerned.

You forgot that Korean hates Chinese; there was a survey done recently. So South Korea's opening being relatively muted to other countries is expected IMO.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/world/asia/korea-china-election-young-voters.html

[imbruglia]

Korea might be more extreme side but with Covid and anti China, anti Asian.. etc..

we really should lower our expectation for this film in international market.

 

it will be interesting to see other Asia countries Number.

I heard China isn't liked by pretty much every other Asia countries too.

and EU's racism, discrimination towards Asian is well known too.

[Legion Again]

Yeah, geopolitical reasons for Korea to be much smaller OS-C% than usual for mcu.

[charlie Jatinder]

I get that but fans should be showing up regardless which hasn't happened, though hopefully not having Euro Cup & theatrical exclusivity, it should atleast open bigger than BW in some western countries.

Edited August 28, 2021 by charlie Jatinder

[Jamiem]

35 minutes ago, charlie Jatinder said:

I get that but fans should be showing up regardless which hasn't happened, though hopefully not having Euro Cup & theatrical exclusivity, it should atleast open bigger than BW in some western countries.

Not opening in NZ and Australia (both of which have large ethnic Chinese communities) until 2 weeks later and even then likely with limited reach in both markets will hurt for sure. I think it would have over performed compared to a lot of OS countries without Delta concerns. 

[TigerPaw]

2 hours ago, Jamiem said:

 I think it would have over performed compared to a lot of OS countries without Delta concerns. 

I tend to disagree with this; yeah Delta is a concern but without Delta, Shang Chi might have opened in a packed summer instead with no room for legs in many countries.

 

now Delta has scare off Venom; so runway is pretty much clear for 1.5 months in US. 3 weeks in many other countries (before Dune) and I personally don’t think Dune would do that well overseas.

Without the delta variant; SC would have opened just 2 weeks before Venom in most countries - at this stage, I would argue that the Delta variant actually helped SC clear off competition.

[Jamiem]

25 minutes ago, TigerPaw said:

I tend to disagree with this; yeah Delta is a concern but without Delta, Shang Chi might have opened in a packed summer instead with no room for legs in many countries.

 

now Delta has scare off Venom; so runway is pretty much clear for 1.5 months in US. 3 weeks in many other countries (before Dune) and I personally don’t think Dune would do that well overseas.

Without the delta variant; SC would have opened just 2 weeks before Venom in most countries - at this stage, I would argue that the Delta variant actually helped SC clear off competition.

When I said Delta concerns I was meaning specifically in Australia and New Zealand which both have over 5% of their population with Chinese ethnicity which is why I said compared to other OS countries. 
 

Also going further into this it is likely Sydney, where around 10% of the population is Chinese, won’t be open at all during the run of Shang-Chi which would have likely been one of the strongest performing western cities for the film in normal times.

 

As for other markets think it would have done pretty average, maybe a little better than Black Widow due to no PA. 

Edited August 28, 2021 by Jamiem

[john2000]

6 hours ago, charlie Jatinder said:

I get that but fans should be showing up regardless which hasn't happened, though hopefully not having Euro Cup & theatrical exclusivity, it should atleast open bigger than BW in some western countries.

hey lets not pre judge think lets see how pre sales are in other counties , how is the reception etc ..have faith

[imbruglia]

8-28 Saturday
1. Hostage - 116,524 +116.9% (1,024,853) / 5,150 showings
2. Sinkhole - 74,652 +142.8% (1,907,617) / 3,845 showings
3. Escape from Mogadishu - 65,171 +117.6% (2,993,445) / 2,994 showings
4. Guimoon - 16,416 -+75.6% (56,691) / 1,517 showings
5. Free Guy - 9,492 +167.8% (281,669) / 394 showings
6. Reminiscence - 6,240 +59.4% (28,344) / 998 showings

 

Free Guy could do much better if we weren't in pandemic or with better timing.

great WOM, doing good with that small showings.

 

compare to last week's Saturday
Hostage -37.4%
Sinkhole -44.1%
Escape from Mogadishu : -30.3%
Free Guy -31.2%

 

KOBIS pre-sale 12:00
1. Shang-Chi - 44,471 (+8,373) D-03
2. Hostage - 40,465
3. Sinkhole - 18,596
4. Mogadishu - 18,290 

 

*Black Widow D-03 was 133,481 (+17,440)

 

D-03 -> OD / Shang-Chi Projection
The Medium - 46,492-> 129,870 / SC 124,224
Escape from Mogadishu - 34,627 -> 126,542 / SC 162,516
Sinkhole - 32,888 -> 147,041 / SC 198,828
Hostage - 30,481-> 97,226 / SC 141,850
Boss Bay 2 - 22,093 -> 57,781 / SC 116,307
The Suicide Squad - 15,378 -> 60,353 / SC 174,532

 

it's very similar to The Medium so far.

Edited August 28, 2021 by imbruglia

[charlie Jatinder]

Pre-sales are just ehh. I am thinking 110-140K OD for SC. Weekend may be 675-850K.

[john2000]

24 minutes ago, charlie Jatinder said:

Pre-sales are just ehh. I am thinking 110-140K OD for SC. Weekend may be 675-850K.

bw had a  ow of 12 mill or so and she is way more popular if shang can hit 7-8 mill or so that would be very decent imo

[imbruglia]

8-29 Sunday
1. Hostage - 114,444 -2% (1,139,505) / 5,153 showings
2. Sinkhole - 74,461 -0.4% (1,982,217) / 3,831 showings
3. Escape from Mogadishu - 65,030 -0.3% (3,058,545) / 3,032 showings
4. Guimoon - 14,474 -12.2% (71,238) / 1,462 showings
5. Free Guy - 10,058 +5.9% (291,734) / 412 showings

 

btw, Mogadishu is #1 films of the year, passing BW yesterday.

 

compare to last week's Sunday
Hostage -37.8%
Sinkhole -45.3%
Escape from Mogadishu : -26.5%
Free Guy -32.1%

 

KOBIS pre-sale 12:00
1. Shang-Chi - 55,305 (+10,834) D-02
2. Hostage - 20,110
4. Mogadishu - 6,430 
5. Coda - 6,336
6. Don't Breathe 2 - 6,193

 

*Black Widow D-02 was 162,580 (+29,099)

 

D-02 -> OD / Shang-Chi Projection
The Medium - 52,258-> 129,870 / SC 137,442
Escape from Mogadishu - 35,618 -> 126,542 / SC 196,485
Sinkhole - 37,235 -> 147,041 / SC 218,399
Hostage - x
Boss Bay 2 - 25,518 -> 57,781 / SC 125,228
The Suicide Squad - 19,291 -> 60,353 / SC 173,024

Edited August 30, 2021 by imbruglia