Japanese animated sensation Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island remains unstoppable at the South Korean box office. Over the weekend of October 23-25, the film captured nearly 45% of nationwide ticket revenue in its fourth frame.
Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island (Credits: Toho / Variety)
According to data from KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council, the Toho-distributed fantasy release took in $2.5 million from 320,293 admissions across 1,115 screens, accounting for 44.7% of the weekend market. The film, released September 30, has now passed 2 million viewers in Korea, becoming the tenth film released this year to reach that mark and the second animated film after Toy Story 5.
Chiikawa Korea Box Office: 45% of Weekend Revenue in Fourth Frame
The staying power is remarkable for a film in its fourth weekend. Chiikawa follows the adventures of Chiikawa and friends as they uncover secrets on a mysterious island, after receiving an invitation promising high rewards and special treats. Directed by Kei Oikawa and based on the popular manga by Nagano, the 99-minute film has held the No. 1 spot for extended stretches, including ten consecutive days at one point, and special 4DX screenings ran at 37 CGV theaters nationwide on October 24-25.
Yeon Sang-ho’s Paradise Lost Debuts Strong at No. 2
Chasing Chiikawa is filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho’s new psychological thriller Paradise Lost, which debuted at No. 2. Released Wednesday, the film stars Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyun-sung in a story about a mother living in a virtual reality world where her missing son has been recreated using AI, and what happens when she reunites with her real son. The film drew 20,625 moviegoers on its opening day and has since passed 100,000 cumulative admissions in its opening week.
Made on a low budget of 500 million won, Paradise Lost follows Yeon Sang-ho’s The Ugly, another ultra-low-budget project that topped the box office last year. Early audience praise has focused on the lead performances and the film’s quiet, creeping tension, suggesting word of mouth could keep it running well beyond its debut weekend.
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Source: Variety — read the full story there.
