The box office competition for this year's Chuseok holiday is shaping up to be a three-way battle.
According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets on September 23, "The Assassin(s)" holds firmly onto the No. 1 spot with an advance reservation rate of 30.9% and 237,000 advance tickets sold. Coming in second is "The Odyssey" with 17.2% and 131,000 tickets, followed by "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" ("Tazza 4") in third place with 14.6% and 112,000 tickets. "The Intern," which opened on September 16 and enjoyed a six-day streak at the top of the box office, landed in fifth place with 7.2% and 54,000 tickets.
If the current trend continues, "The Assassin(s)" is highly likely to debut at No. 1 at the box office on its opening day. "Tazza 4" also appears poised to debut in second place, buoyed by the momentum of its new theatrical release. While "The Odyssey" demonstrated impressive staying power by reclaiming the top box office spot in its seventh week, its daily audience remains in the 30,000s, making it difficult to overtake the two new releases.
With the most prominent reservation rate and advance ticket sales among the new titles arriving this Chuseok holiday, "The Assassin(s)" is expected to carry its box office run through National Foundation Day and Hangeul Day. However, the true strength of its box office power will only become evident once opening-weekend figures arrive. As a film inspired by modern history, it also holds strong potential to capture public interest and generate widespread conversation.
"The Assassin(s)" traces the suspicions and shadowy forces behind the assassination of the First Lady on August 15, 1974, an event that stunned South Korea. The film is directed by Hur Jin-ho, known for "One Fine Spring Day" and "The Last Princess," and stars Yoo Hai-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Minho.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)