Movie Theater Recovery Still Elusive... Only 400,000 Visitors Last Weekend

"Tenet" Tops Weekend Box Office for 5 Consecutive Weeks with 1.68 Million Total Viewers
New Releases "Geomgaek", "Diva", and "Outpost" Show Weak Audience Draw

On the 8th, while social distancing level 2.5 is in effect due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Seoul CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall is quiet.
Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

The number of movie theater visitors slightly increased last weekend. However, it still fell far short of the levels before the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the Korea Film Council's integrated ticketing system on the 28th, the number of moviegoers who visited theaters last weekend (25th-27th) was 404,095. This is a 21.4% (71,171 people) increase compared to the third weekend of this month (18th-20th), which had 332,924 visitors. Thanks to new releases such as Geomgaek, Diva, and Outpost, the daily audience number exceeded 150,000 for the first time in 21 days since the 5th (160,802).

It is difficult to say that a green light has been lit for the revival of the theater industry. The number of visitors during the fourth weekend of last September (27th-29th) was 1,448,538. The record from last weekend is only about 28% of that. While COVID-19 is a major factor, the audience-pulling power of new releases was also minimal. For example, Tenet, which was released on the 26th of last month, led the weekend box office for five consecutive weeks.

Movie 'Tenet' still cut

Tenet also could not fully rejoice. It attracted 91,558 viewers across 882 screens (6,728 showings). The seat occupancy rate was only 8.3%. Its revenue share was 24.0%, with a cumulative audience of 1,683,348. Geomgaek gathered 83,040 viewers on 832 screens (7,974 showings), recording a seat occupancy rate of 7.3%. Its revenue share was 20.6%, with a cumulative audience of 108,343.

Diva attracted 58,941 viewers on 830 screens (9,005 showings). Although it had the most showings, its occupancy rate remained at 3.9%. Its revenue share was 14.4%, with a cumulative audience of 88,253. The movie Break the Silence: The Movie, spotlighting the group BTS, drew 50,658 viewers on 200 screens (3,124 showings). It recorded a seat occupancy rate of 7.7% and a revenue share of 13.0%. Its cumulative audience was 50,658. Mulan slipped three places to 5th. It attracted 33,560 viewers on 686 screens (5,384 showings). This is a 72.2% (86,987 people) decrease compared to the third weekend of this month’s 120,547. Its revenue share was 8.6%, with a cumulative audience of 221,276.

Movie 'Outpost' Still Cut

Outpost (24,793 viewers; cumulative 33,068), Oh! Moon-hee (19,514 viewers; cumulative 318,783), Gigi Gwigwi: Seonghyeongsu (7,073 viewers; cumulative 87,476), and The Detective Butt: The Mystery of Tenten Village (6,703 viewers; cumulative 7,739) followed in order.

In real-time reservation rates (as of 9:43 AM on the 28th), new releases this week are occupying the top ranks. The order is Thank You, My Dear: Kim Ho-joong’s First Fan Meeting Movie (41,967 reservations), International Secret (27,468), Pawn (22,138), Night of the Undying Humans (10,028; opening on the 29th), Steel Rain 2: Summit Extended Edition (8,561; opening on the 30th), and Greenland (7,144; opening on the 29th).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.