The South Korean box office is buzzing as “I, The Executioner,” a crime-comedy-thriller and sequel to the 2015 hit “Veteran,” continues its box office dominance. Over its fourth weekend, the film earned $1.68 million, bringing its total to an impressive $49.97 million since its release on September 13. This makes it the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, trailing only “Exhuma,” “The Roundup: Punishment,” and the animated blockbuster “Inside Out 2,” which sits at a notable $64 million.
Despite a slip to 29% market share, “I, The Executioner” remains a crowd favorite, showcasing its staying power amidst new releases. In a notable second-place debut, “Joker: Folie a Deux” opened to $1.17 million over the weekend, capturing 21% of the market share. With a total of $3.60 million from its five-day opening—including the National Foundation Day holiday—this sequel to the iconic “Joker” film is set to make waves.
Another new contender, “Love in the Big City,” also released on October 1, brought in $897,000 over the weekend, totaling $1.88 million across its first five days. Starring the beloved Kim Go-eun, known for her roles in “Exhuma” and popular dramas like “Cheese in the Trap,” the film adds a romantic touch to the lineup.
Animated film “The Wild Robot” performed well, earning $741,000 over the weekend and $1.69 million since its opening, making it the top-ranked animated feature of the week. Meanwhile, “Transformers One,” which had a strong opening last weekend, fell to fifth place, adding $251,000 to its total of $2.16 million.
In sixth, “Detective Conan: The Time-Bombed Skyscraper” made $152,000, totaling $412,000 since its Thursday debut. The re-release of “Begin Again” secured seventh place with $127,000, bringing its cumulative earnings to $21.7 million since its original release in 2014.
“Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” continued to impress as the highest-grossing Korean animated film of all time, adding $118,000 to reach $7.91 million since August 3. The concert film “Lim Young Woong: IM Hero The Stadium” claimed ninth place with $94,500, thanks in part to its premium-priced tickets, totaling $6.63 million.
Finally, rounding out the top ten, the Japanese animated film “Butt Detective: Farewell, My Lovely Partner” debuted with $62,900 over the weekend and $226,000 in its first five days.
Overall, the weekend saw disappointing cinema revenues at $5.54 million, marking it as one of the slowest weekends of the year. As audiences navigate the mix of new and returning films, the competition in the Korean box office is heating up, setting the stage for future clashes between major titles.
