Korean 'Intern' Tops Box Office, Ends 'Odyssey' Run
Korean 'Intern' Tops Box Office, Ends 'Odyssey' Run
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The Intern remained No. 1 at the daily box office for five consecutive days after its Sept. 16 release, becoming the first Korean film since Hope, 50 days earlier, to top the chart.
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The film received strong audience scores, including a 95% Golden Egg rating on CGV and a 9.1 audience rating on Lotte Cinema.
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The Intern and The Odyssey were closely matched during the weekend: The Intern drew 115,200 viewers on Sept. 19 and 98,844 on Sept. 20, compared with The Odyssey’s 108,831 and 92,771 on those days, respectively.
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The remake reworks the premise around Ki-ho, a senior intern with 37 years of experience, joining Sun-woo’s fashion company; director Kim Do-young’s film was praised for the chemistry between Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee.
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The Assassin(s) received strong early critical notices ahead of its release, including descriptions from The People’s Movies as “easily one of the finest films of the year” and from Screen Daily as a “gripping, propulsive thriller.”
South Korea's box office got a new champion this weekend. The Korean remake of The Intern, starring Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee, drew about 275,000 admissions from Sept. 18-20 to claim the top spot. The film ended Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey's six-week reign at No. 1, though the sci-fi epic remained strong in second place with roughly 257,000 weekend admissions.
The Intern remake earned a 95% audience rating on CGV and 9.1 out of 10 on Lotte Cinema, showing strong viewer approval. Director Kim Do-young's film centers on Ki-ho, a 37-year veteran intern who joins a fashion company run by Sun-woo. Critics praised the chemistry between the two leads ahead of the film's extended Chuseok holiday run.
The Intern Held the Daily Chart for Six Days Straight
The Intern became the first Korean film in 50 days to top South Korea's daily box office. According to Screen Daily, it held the No. 1 spot for six consecutive days starting Sept. 16. The last Korean film to lead the chart was Hope, which achieved the feat about 50 days earlier.
On the weekend itself, the race stayed extremely tight. The Intern drew 115,200 viewers on Sept. 19 and 98,844 on Sept. 20. The Odyssey countered with 108,831 and 92,771 on those same days. The two films essentially traded blows throughout the weekend.
The Odyssey Stays Strong Despite Losing the Top Spot
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey didn't disappear from view. The sci-fi blockbuster accumulated more than 11.2 million total admissions across its entire run. It pulled in 256,800 admissions over the Sept. 18-20 weekend alone, keeping it in second place and proving Nolan's film still has audience appeal.
The Odyssey's six-week dominance shows the power of major studio releases. While The Intern won the weekend admission battle, the two films remained closely matched in viewer numbers. Nolan's epic continues to draw crowds despite losing its box office crown.
The Assassin(s) Leads Advance Sales for Next Weekend
Looking ahead to Sept. 23, the Korean historical thriller The Assassin(s) is already dominating advance ticket sales. Screen Daily reports the film has received strong early critical praise. The People's Movies called it "easily one of the finest films of the year," while critics labeled it "a gripping, propulsive thriller."
The film's strong pre-release buzz suggests it could challenge The Intern for the top spot next weekend. The Odyssey and Tazza: Song of Beelzebub follow in advance ticket sales, but The Assassin(s) appears positioned to make an impact when it opens.
Obsession and Other Films Round Out the Top Five
Outside the top two, the South Korean box office remained competitive. Obsession ranked third with 131,467 weekend admissions. Resident Evil: Night Zero and Spider-Man: Brand New Day also claimed spots in the top five, showing a healthy mix of Korean and Hollywood titles drawing audiences.
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