Korean disaster comedy film 'Sinkhole' sets another record

The disaster comedy movie “Sinkhole” has set another record in South Korea by selling one million tickets at the shortest time among Korean films released this year.
“Sinkhole,” starring Cha Seung-won, “Reply 1988” star Kim Sung-kyun, former “Running Man” star Lee Kwang-soo and Kim Hye-jun, recorded 1,141,971 in total admissions on Aug. 16, or just six days after it opened on Aug. 11, based on numbers by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).
This surpassed the record set by "Escape from Mogadishu,” which reached one million audience on Aug. 3, or seven days after its release on July 28. The movie, starring Kim Yoon-seok and Jo In-sung, recorded 1,035,315 in total admissions on the day.
To mark the milestone, “Sinkhole” stars posted commemorative photos to celebrate the movie’s achievement.
As of Aug. 17, or in one week, “Sinkhole” has sold 1.22 million tickets and grossed $10.23 million in South Korea.
“Sinkhole” now ranks seventh among the top-grossing films released in Korea this year and the eighth film this year to reach the one-million audience mark.
The film earlier set an opening day record for a Korean film released this year. According to KOFIC, “Sinkhole” sold 147,304 tickets and earned $1.17 million on opening day on Aug. 11, edging out “Escape from Mogadishu,” which attracted 126,672 people when it opened last July 28.
“Sinkhole” placed third in first-day attendance records among all movies released in Korea this year behind “Fast & Furious 9” with 400,372 on May 19 and “Black Widow” with 196,233 on July 7.
“Sinkhole” tells the story of a villa in Mapo District, which plunges 500 meters into a sinkhole. Dong-won (played by Kim Sung-hyun) and his family have a new house and he invited guests for a housewarming party. A giant sinkhole swallows up the house and people who were trapped must find a way out.