▲ This photo, provided by Plus M Entertainment, shows a scene from 'The Point Men.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows a scene from the movie 'Phantom.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo shows movie schedules of a theater in Seoul in Jan. 15. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) – South Korean movies are hitting the national box office hard and strong as “The Point Men” and “Phantom,” both premiered on Wednesday, top the chart as No.1 and No.2, respectively.

“The Point Men,” starring South Korean veteran actors Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung-min, attracted more than 104 thousand moviegoers and topped the box office chart on its first day of release, according to data released from the Korea Film Council.

The gripping, action-packed crime thriller film tells the story of a Korean diplomat and a National Intelligence Service agent who struggle and risk their lives to save South Koreans who were held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The film is based on the actual hostage crisis that happened in 2007.

“Phantom,” another South Korean film released on Wednesday, is a thrilling spy film that garnered more than 41 thousand viewers on its first day, ranking No.2; the movie, starring Seol Kyung-gu, Lee Hanee, Park Hae-soo, and Park So-dam, illustrates the story of a Korean independence organization in 1933, during the Japanese colonization of Korea.

The two South Korean films have climbed the national box office chart, even taking down the global smash hit sci-fi film “Avatar: The Way of Water” which has been maintaining its juggernaut status for 36 days. James Cameron’s new legendary Avatar sequel is now pushed back to No.4 on the box office chart.

The animated version of the 90s manga series, “The First Slam Dunk,” sat at No.3, with “Hero” depicting the story of a South Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun sliding down to No.5.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)


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