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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider 'Sleep,' 'Dr. Cheon,' 'Oppenheimer' top monthly box office in September in Korea

'Sleep,' 'Dr. Cheon,' 'Oppenheimer' top monthly box office in September in Korea

Published Oct 2, 2023 04:20 am

The Korean films “Sleep” and “Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman,” and the Hollywood flick “Oppenheimer” topped the monthly box office for September in South Korea. 

The Korean film industry in South Korea suffered a slump in theater attendance and box office gross in September. 

KOFIC_Sept.jpg

(Clockwise from top left) “Sleep,” “Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman,” “Oppenheimer” and "Road to Boston" (KOFIC) 

According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the theater audience in September totaled 6,656,685, down 55 percent from 14.56 million in August. 

Box office revenues in September totaled 65.26 billion won (about $48.28 million), a decrease of 54.5 percent from 143.34 billion won (about $106 million) in August. 

“Sleep,’ starring Jung Yu-mi, Park Hyun-jeong and Lee Sun-kyun, topped the September box office with 1.4 million in total admissions and gross of $9.87 million. 

“Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman,” starring Gang Dong-won, Huh Joonho, E Som and Lee Dong-hwi, grabbed second place with 944,245 in total attendance and gross of $6.67 million. 

“Oppenheimer” placed third with 676,427 in total attendance in September and gross of $5.25 million. Since its opening in August, “Oppenheimer” has grossed $25.12 million in South Korea. 

Here are the 20 top-grossing films in South Korea in September, according to KOFIC: 

Rank

Title

Release Date

Monthly Gross

(Total)

Admissions

(Total)

Revenue Share

1

Sleep

South Korea

Sept. 6, 2023

$9,873,968

($9,930,354)

1,409,811

(1,417,549)

20.49%

2

Dr. Cheon And The Lost Talisman

South Korea

Sept. 27, 2023

$6,678,182

($6,678,182)

944,245

(944,245)

13.86%

3

Oppenheimer

U.S.

Aug. 15, 2023

$5,258,001

($25,127,632)

676,427

(3,202,303)

10.91%

4

Road to Boston

South Korea

Sept. 27, 2023

$3,248,751

($3,248,751)

461,408

(461,408)

6.74%

5

HONEYSWEET

South Korea

Aug. 15, 2023

$2,893,127

($9,887,120)

407,480

(1,381,842)

6%

6

Concrete Utopia

South Korea

Aug. 9, 2023

$2,686,761

($27,597,929)

392,373

(3,847,230)

5.57%

7

Don't Buy the Seller

South Korea

Aug. 30, 2023

$2,370,233

($2,953,480)

331,430

(424,734)

4.92%

8

A haunting in Venice

U.S.

Sept. 13, 2023

$1,463,238

($1,463,238)

203,098

(203,098)

3.03%

9

COBWEB

South Korea

Sept. 27, 2023

$1,346,932

($1,346,932)

192,360

(192,360)

2.79%

10

Elemental

U.S.

June 14, 2023

$1,165,304

($52,399,073)

160,948

(7,226,073)

2.41%

11

The Nun II

U.S.

Sept. 27, 2023

$1,135,965

($1,135,965)

151,855

(151,855)

2.35%

12

Marrying the Mafia

South Korea

Sept. 21, 2023

$1,038,286

($1,038,286)

147,004

(147,004)

2.15%

13

Smugglers

South Korea

July 26, 2023

$861,151

($36,657,215)

119,002

(5,141,093)

1.78%

14

Gran Turismo

U.S.

Sept. 20, 2023

$757,839

($757,839)

102,782

(102,782)

1.57%

15

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

Japan

Sept. 14, 2023

$569,563

($569,563)

76,118

(76,118)

1.18%

16

IU CONCERT : The Golden Hour

South Korea

Sept. 13, 2023

$1,275,278

($1,275,278)

73,769

(73,769)

2.64%

17

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

U.S.

Sept. 14, 2023

$468,264

($468,264)

70,501

(70,501)

0.97%

18

Argonuts

France

Sept. 21, 2023

$389,522

($389,718)

58,562

(58,581)

0.8%

19

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

U.S.

July 15, 2009

$477,049

($15,434,602)

55,859

(3,013,595)

0.99%

20

Butt Detective the Movie SHIRIARTY

Japan

Sept. 28, 2023

$346,125

($346,125)

51,456

(51,456)

0.71%

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