EXO member Chanyeol’s film ‘The Box’ dislodges ‘Minari’ to premiere at No. 1 in Korea


EXO, Chanyeol, The Box

K-pop boy band EXO member Chanyeol’s new movie premiered at No. 1 at the Korean box office and ended the 21-day winning streak of the Oscar-nominated film “Minari.” 

According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Chanyeol’s “The Box” sold 29,274 tickets on opening day on March 24 to crown itself as the new No. 1 movie in Korea. 

“Minari,” which dominated the box office since its premiere in Korea on March 3, slid to second place with 12,484 tickets sold. The movie, nominated for Best Picture at the 93rd Academy Awards, has so far garnered 742,909 in total admissions and gross of $5.93 million. 

“The Box” earned $208,269 on its first day. Together with the pre-opening screening numbers, “The Box” has sold 31,905 tickets and earned $234,373.

In the movie, Chanyeol plays the role of Ji-hoon, an aspiring musician who cannot perform in front of people. He learns that he can perform before a crowd if he is in a box. 

“The Box” was released before Chanyeol enlists in the Korean military on March 29. He will be the fifth member of EXO to fulfill military service after Xiumin, D.O, Suho and Chen.

Here are the top 10 movies in Korea on March 24, according to the KOFIC: 

1. “The Box” - 29,274 tickets sold / $208,269 in revenue 

2. “Minari” - 12,474 / $93,678

3. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie - Mugen Train” - 11,589 / $$94,422 

4. “Hypnosis” - 5,825 / $44,633 

5. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” - 2,495 / $27,955

6. “Wonder Woman 1984” - 1,605 / $7,086

7. “Mission: Possible” - 1,565 / $7,450

8. “Raya and the Last Dragon” - 1,366 / $10,961

9. “The Mauritanian” - 1,227 / $9,053

10. “Soul” - 1,053 / $8,760