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| ▲This photo, provided by each distribution companies, show movies. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo, provided by each distribution companies, show movies. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo shows that "The Roundup" surpassed 10 million (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo, provided by CJ ENM , show "Confidential Assignment 2: International." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo, provided by Lotte Entertainment, shows "Escape From Mogadishu." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, August 22 (Yonhap) -- “There is no sequel better than the original” does not apply to this year’s S.Korean box office.
There is a prejudice sequels cannot make a good performance because it is hard to meet the high expectations from the original movie. But “The Roundup” became the first 10 million movie and sequel movies “Top Gun : Maverick,” “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” and “Minions 2” also showed good performances, making another formula for box office hit.
It is believed that those sequels have interesting features and high level of completion compared to the original, and audiences look for fun guaranteed works as the admission fee increased due to COVID-19.
◇ From ‘Roundup 2’ to ‘Minions 2’.. Advanced sequels
The start was “Roundup 2” released in last May. “Roundup 2” surpassed 12.69 million viewers, about twice more than original movie with 6.88 million viewers, ranked No.13 in overall S.Korean box office hit.
“Top Gun : Maverick,” which was released in June 22., in its nine week of release is still remaining on the upper ranks. It is the highest record for foreign movie after the pandemic with 7.86 million viewers as of previous day, Aug. 21.
“Hansan” (6.71 million) did not surpass the original movie “Roaring Current,” all-time-highest S.Korea box office hit, but it was the only movie out of four Korean blockbusters to pass break-even point. “Minions 2” also accumulated 2.21 million viewers until the previous day, becoming the biggest box-office success for animation.
Four movies became box office hits as they all made up for weaknesses from original works and improved to meet viewers’ taste.
“The Roundup” allowed wider audience by lowering the rating to 15-year-old viewers and increased comic elements by using “chemistry” between actors. “Top Gun : Maverick” was produced so that even the younger generation who did not watch the previous work, released over 30 years ago, can enjoy it. The flight scenes of the team members including Maverick (Tom Cruise), provide a different experience to audiences like a game in which a combat plane appears.
“Hansan” stands out for its understated directing that removed the new wave and patriotism of “Roaring Currents.” It deviated from the heroism by charmingly portraying the enemy captain of Yi Sun-sin, Admiral Wakisaka (Byun Yo-han), Na Dae-yong (Park Ji-hwan) who designed the turtle ship, and Great man (Kim Seong-gyu).
The sequel of “Minions,” which was criticized for focusing mainly on the character in the previous work, is evaluated to have been more faithful to the narrative, the story of Minions and Gru fighting the six villains.
◇ Seeking for ‘Safety’ over ‘adventure’ with the increased admission fee
The success of the sequel seems to have been affected by the strong tendency of the audience to seek safety.
In a situation where watching movies through online video service (OTT) has become common and the ticket price for the weekend theaters at three multiplex companies has risen to 15,000 won, audiences are focusing on works that guarantee a certain level of quality.
The sequel is a one safe option for audiences who experienced enough fun from the original. If “word of mouth” that spread among the audiences who watched the movie first is added, the movie gains momentum for the box office hit.
A popular culture critic Chung Deok-hyun said, "The time has come where the movie has to answer the question, 'Why should I watch it in a movie theater?'" adding, “As the audiences make careful choice in what movie to watch in theater with the increase of movie ticket price and the popularization of the Over-The-Top streaming service, ‘safe choice’ will continue.”
◇ Chuseok holiday new Korean film 'Confidential Assignment 2: International'
The industry, who detected changes in the taste of the audience, is also reorganizing its distribution strategy. They have realized this summer season that it is no longer guaranteed that movies released in peak season will be box office hit.
Compared to the highest peak season from Wednesday on the fourth week of July to the third week of August, the number of audience was 19.56 million this year, which is only 70.8 % of 27.76 million in 2019.
The only new Korean film to be released for the Chuseok holiday next month is the sequel of “Confidential Assignment,” “Confidential Assignment 2: International.” The “Confidential Assignment,” which was released during the 2017 Lunar New Year holidays, garnered 7.81 million people, and it is predicted that the sequel will make similar performance.
Lotte Entertainment decided to re-play “Escape From Mogadishu,” which was released during the peak season of last summer, on the Chuseok holiday. It is unusual for a Korean film to be re-released only a year after its release without an extended version or a director's cut.
“Escape From Mogadishu,” directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, recorded 3.61 million viewers, the highest number among Korean films last year. But due to social distancing, it is evaluated that the performance was low compared to its completeness.
An official from a distribution company said, "Expectations that If there are many good films released this summer, the market size for film will increase has been disappeared," adding, “Competitors are not joining the competition because ‘Confidential Assignment 2: International’ is a too safe choice like ‘The Roundup.’”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)
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