South Korea Box Office

[Fullbuster]

You've got to love how a film released in the 50M populated Korea can outgross every film in North America this weekend bar one.

 

The comparison isn't very fair given it's a weak week in the US ^^ Snowpiercer is very big in SK

[zackzack]

What is WWZ & SNOWPIERCER number in $USD??

[Sam]

Right and so onto Snowpiercer...I will begin by saying I aim to include zero spoilers whatsoever which will mean I cannot talk about certain scenes or events but hopefully can keep things interesting.So, the film is arguably both a masterpiece and a disappointment. There is both immense ambition and also a sense that Bong was playing it safe a little. Let me explain...The film is set on a train. Apart from a couple of scenery shots, everything is on a train so for an action based film, you are kind of talking almost like the Oldboy Hammer corridor fight but extended for 100 minutes. the film is claustrophobic, congested and at times there is far to much happening in too small a space. There is also a fair bit of shaky cam work which possibly happened due to actors having no choice byt to bump into the camera. You really feel the whole time that you are on a train and it is done so well that at times it hinders the visuals.I read a couple of US pieces that commented how the film appears to just be Ellysium but on a train (lets not argue about which idea came first...) and maybe there is a sense of that with the divisions of class and such. However this film makes decisions and takes directions I would be both shocked and in awe of if Elysium follows suit (and I really hope that turns out to be a great film). Even though the whole film is in English and is clearly made with the US market in mind, there is something truly Korean running through the film which could shock a few US audiences who may be less comfortable with the lack of respect for genre moulds and what a character is 'supposed to do' in a Hollywood film.The visuals inside the train are great, some of the CGI is a bit dodgy for the scenary shots but the sets and direction are near flawless. The acting too was really surprisingly impressive. Chris Evans is immense in this and John hurt also puts in a great performance that stood about amongst a sea of great performances. Too often, English language films directed by non-English speakers (first language) turn out to be wooden and awkward, this really really isn't.When I saw the trailer, the one thing that worried me was how 'bad' Tilda Swinton's speech seemed to be. I am happy to say that the full thing within the film is really well done and she adds some great comic moments to this, as does Jamie Bell and of course Song Kangho. Despite not speaking a word of English, his mannerisms and tone of voice when speaking Korean really steals the scenes he is in, it's extraordinary. I hope it translates equally to those that don't understand him.Overall, I thought the film was great, although my Korean friend felt it was Okay. It seems that the main issue is that people were expecting something revolutionary and instead got something that has been done before being done again (even if it was done very well).If i had to compare the film and its reception, I would have to say its like Spielberg in the 90s. The Host was Bong's Jurassic Park, Memories of Murder was his Schinder's List and then this was his Saving Private Ryan. A great and brilliantly made film that disappointed people at first because it was 'just a war film' and not genre breaking like the films before. However in time, I believe will will realise (like they sort of do now with Ryan), that it's actually a stunning piece of filmmaking.It's well worth waiting for and part of me almost thinks that its release delay in the USA is actually down to Weinstein believing this has awards nomination potential.

Thank you so much for the detailed but non-spoilerific review. Glad to hear you enjoyed and found the film to be great. I'm really looking forward to it now, hopefully, it'll have a US release date. I really want to see Song Kang Ho in action now. I have a question: how's Chris Evans as the lead? You didn't mention him so I guess he was okay?How do you think the overall WOM would be?

[efialtes76]

What is WWZ & SNOWPIERCER number in $USD??

Snowpiercer:$21.2m

 

WWZ:$34.3m

[Olive]

wwz biggest surprise of 2013

[efialtes76]

wwz biggest surprise of 2013

Yes.

How many Hollywood films did 5mio admissions?

[Olive]

Yes.

How many Hollywood films did 5mio admissions?

14.

WWZ ranks all-time #12 among HLW releases.

[Sam]

Doesn't look like we'll have any potential 5M admissions Hollywood movies in the near future. WWZ could end the year as No.2

[Olive]

All-Time Top 20 Hollywood Releases in Admissions

1. Avatar (2009/2010) - 13,302,637

2. Iron Man 3 (2013) -  9,001,312

3. Transformers 3 (2011) -  7,784,743

4. Mission Impossible 4 (2011/2012)  - 7,508,896

5. Transformers 1 (2007) - 7,402,211

6. Transformers 2 (2009) - 7,392,990

7. The Avengers (2012) - 7,074,867

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 6,396,615

9. Les Miserable (2012/2013) - 5,911,890

10. Inception (2010) - 5,827,444

11. 2012 （2009）-  5,397,597

12.WWZ (2013) - 5,237,531

13. Mission Impossible 3 (2006) - 5,127,047

14. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) - 5,062,720

15. The Amazing Spider-man (2012) - 4,853,123

16. Kung Fu Panda (2008) - 4,654,019

17. Spider-Man 3 (2007) - 4,592,309

18. Mamma Mia! (2008) - 4,577,611

19. Pirates of the Caribbean 3(2007) - 4,571,229

20. Terminator 4(2009)  - 4,499,776

20. Iron Man 2(2010) 4,425,003

[druv10]

Doesn't look like we'll have any potential 5M admissions Hollywood movies in the near future. WWZ could end the year as No.2

 

 

I think Thor 2 should have the potential for 5M+ admissions.

Edited August 4, 2013 by druv10

[Fullbuster]

 

All-Time Top 20 Hollywood Releases in Admissions

1. Avatar (2009/2010) - 13,302,637

2. Iron Man 3 (2013) -  9,001,312

3. Transformers 3 (2011) -  7,784,743

4. Mission Impossible 4 (2011/2012)  - 7,508,896

5. Transformers 1 (2007) - 7,402,211

6. Transformers 2 (2009) - 7,392,990

7. The Avengers (2012) - 7,074,867

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 6,396,615

9. Les Miserable (2012/2013) - 5,911,890

10. Inception (2010) - 5,827,444

11. 2012 （2009）-  5,397,597

12.WWZ (2013) - 5,237,531

13. Mission Impossible 3 (2006) - 5,127,047

14. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) - 5,062,720

15. The Amazing Spider-man (2012) - 4,853,123

16. Kung Fu Panda (2008) - 4,654,019

17. Spider-Man 3 (2007) - 4,592,309

18. Mamma Mia! (2008) - 4,577,611

19. Pirates of the Caribbean 3(2007) - 4,571,229

20. Terminator 4(2009)  - 4,499,776

20. Iron Man 2(2010) 4,425,003

 

 

TASM is 15th! It's a good omen for TASM2

[Olive]

THor made 1.69M adm.,hoping for 3M for Thor2.

[efialtes76]

I think Thor 2 should have the potential for 5M+ admissions.

Thor only did 1.7mio...

Edited August 4, 2013 by efialtes76

[chasmmi]

Thank you so much for the detailed but non-spoilerific review. Glad to hear you enjoyed and found the film to be great. I'm really looking forward to it now, hopefully, it'll have a US release date. I really want to see Song Kang Ho in action now. I have a question: how's Chris Evans as the lead? You didn't mention him so I guess he was okay?How do you think the overall WOM would be?

The acting too was really surprisingly impressive. Chris Evans is immense in this and John hurt also puts in a great performance that stood about amongst a sea of great performances. Too often, English language films directed by non-English speakers (first language) turn out to be wooden and awkward, this really really isn't.

 

To expand, He does a really good job or being the reluctant and troubled leader and really gels well with both Hurt and Bell. There are two scenes in particular (one with Song and one with Ed Harris where he really shows himself off as a fine actor.)

 

I think the overall word of mouth in Korea will be affected by it being an English Language film despite being advertised as a bilingual affair. There is a scene or two of Korea but honestly, there is much more Russian in Die Hard 5 than there is Korean in this.

 

This has meant that a lot of people who would never choose the foreign option at the cinema are watching this and thus missing out on some subtleties within the language or plain just not understanding it. I would say add at least .5 out of 10 to the Korean ratings (maybe even 1) to get a truer idea of WOM

 

In the USA I think this will get better WOM than it will get in Korea. 

[efialtes76]

 

All-Time Top 20 Hollywood Releases in Admissions

1. Avatar (2009/2010) - 13,302,637

2. Iron Man 3 (2013) -  9,001,312

3. Transformers 3 (2011) -  7,784,743

4. Mission Impossible 4 (2011/2012)  - 7,508,896

5. Transformers 1 (2007) - 7,402,211

6. Transformers 2 (2009) - 7,392,990

7. The Avengers (2012) - 7,074,867

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 6,396,615

9. Les Miserable (2012/2013) - 5,911,890

10. Inception (2010) - 5,827,444

11. 2012 （2009）-  5,397,597

12.WWZ (2013) - 5,237,531

13. Mission Impossible 3 (2006) - 5,127,047

14. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) - 5,062,720

15. The Amazing Spider-man (2012) - 4,853,123

16. Kung Fu Panda (2008) - 4,654,019

17. Spider-Man 3 (2007) - 4,592,309

18. Mamma Mia! (2008) - 4,577,611

19. Pirates of the Caribbean 3(2007) - 4,571,229

20. Terminator 4(2009)  - 4,499,776

20. Iron Man 2(2010) 4,425,003

 

Wow for KFP!

[Sam]

I think Thor 2 should have the potential for 5M+ admissions.

Too high. I'm hoping for 20M-25M. That'll be good already.

[Fullbuster]

Thor only did 1.7mio...

 

People said "Iron Man 2 just grossed "low number you want" " to justify bad forecasts about IM3...And realistic people said "You forget the Avengers' effect"

 

I can't believe you did this mistake, be real! Thor 2 will explode Thor thanks to the Avengers' effect Everybody knows it.5m admissions is not impossible, but 3m would be a great number already.

Edited August 4, 2013 by Sonic

[Sam]

:)To expand, He does a really good job or being the reluctant and troubled leader and really gels well with both Hurt and Bell. There are two scenes in particular (one with Song and one with Ed Harris where he really shows himself off as a fine actor.)I think the overall word of mouth in Korea will be affected by it being an English Language film despite being advertised as a bilingual affair. There is a scene or two of Korea but honestly, there is much more Russian in Die Hard 5 than there is Korean in this.This has meant that a lot of people who would never choose the foreign option at the cinema are watching this and thus missing out on some subtleties within the language or plain just not understanding it. I would say add at least .5 out of 10 to the Korean ratings (maybe even 1) to get a truer idea of WOMIn the USA I think this will get better WOM than it will get in Korea.

LOL, I don't know why I missed that, so fail. Thank you!Well, I hope it will do well in SK still BO-wise.I would love to see it getting awards recognitions. Bong Joon Ho definitely deserves them. The reviews from US critics that I read so far were good. The Host should have get more recognitions IMO.

[efialtes76]

People said "Iron Man 2 just grossed "low number you want" " to justify bad forecasts about IM3...And realistic people said "You forget the Avengers' effect"

 

I can't believe you did this mistake, be real! Thor 2 will explode Thor thanks to the Avengers' effect Everybody knows it.5m admissions is not impossible, but 3m would be a great number already.

5mio is IMPOSSIBLE!.

Thor isn't IM,and Hemsworth isn't RDJ...

[druv10]

5mio is IMPOSSIBLE!.

Thor isn't IM,and Hemsworth isn't RDJ...

 

I wouldn't say impossible. First SH are really popular in SK, second TA effect will help and thirdly, action and scale in this movie will be similar to TA so ingredients are there for a breakout.