"Avatar" becomes sixth most-watched film in Korea

Hollywood film "Avatar" has set another record in Korea this week, becoming the sixth most-watched film in the country's history, according to the film's distributor 20th Century Fox Korea on Friday.

As of January 14, the James Cameron pic -- which on Monday was named the most-watched foreign film in Korea -- had attracted over 8.66 million viewers since its release on December 17 to set the new box-office record.

The figures for the sci-fi action flick had surpassed notable Korean blockbusters such as "Take Off" (8.44 million viewers), "D-War" (8.42 mil.), to land at No. 6 on the list of most-watched films of all-time.

The top five spots were all claimed by Korean movies -- "The Host", "The King and the Clown", "Taegukgi", "Haeundae" and "Silmido".

"Avatar" is expected to breach the nine-million viewer mark over the weekend as it is still topping ticket reservations into its fifth week of release.

The film stars Australian actor Sam Worthington as a paraplegic war veteran who participates in the avatar program and finds himself in another planet Pandora, where he battles the local humanoid race.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr